A recent study highlights that children are beginning to experience menstruation menstruation at an earlier age, and the duration for their cycles to become regular is also shifting.
Published in JAMA Network Open on May 29, the study utilized data from the Apple Women’s Health Study, an initiative spearheaded by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in collaboration with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and Apple Inc.
Analyzing menstrual cycle data from over 71,000 individuals using iPhones and Apple Watches, the study revealed that the average age of menarche was 11.9 years for those born between 2000 and 2005, compared to 12.5 years for individuals born between 1950 and 1969.
Participants who self-identified as Asian, non-Hispanic Black, or multiracial reported experiencing their first menstruation at younger ages than their White peers.
Dr. Zifan Wang, the lead author and postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, stated to CNN, "Among individuals born between 1950 and 2005, we observed that younger generations are commencing menstruation earlier, with a prolonged period for their cycles to regularize."
Wang emphasized that these findings are "significant" because early and irregular menstruation "can be indicators of physical and psychosocial issues later in life."
Wang further pointed out that "these trends could contribute to rising adverse health outcomes and disparities in the U.S."
The researchers connected to the study noted that early menstruation might be influenced by several factors.
"Notably, obesity is a significant risk factor for early-onset puberty, and the rise in childhood obesity rates in the U.S. supports the hypothesis that obesity might be contributing to the trend of earlier menarche," the study indicated.
Additionally, the researchers highlighted that "environmental influences," "dietary habits," "psychosocial stress," and "adverse childhood experiences" might also be contributing factors.
The Quran - Chapter An-Najm : 55
Now, which of your Lord’s favours will you dispute?
فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكَ تَتَمَارَىٰ (Then, which of your Lord's bounties would you dispute?....53:55). Tamara means to dispute and oppose. According to Ibn ` Abbas ؓ ، the verse is addressed to every human being.
After seeing so many and so clear and invincible arguments in the preceding verses and the Signs in the scriptures of Musa and Ibrahim (علیہما السلام) that support and substantiate the claims of the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about the truth of his revelation, the verse says to the obstinate disbelievers:
How long will you continue to deny the truth and wander in the wilderness of disbelief?
The verse further makes it abundantly clear for those who think and deliberate that there should be no room for any doubt in the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ، his revelation and his teachings.
Having heard about the stories of destruction and punishment of past nations, this is an opportune occasion for them to straighten out.
This well-timed occasion is a favour of Allah. They should take advantage of it instead of fighting and opposing it.
