Age at Menarche and Menstrual Irregularities of Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes

Abstract 

Study Objective

The aim of the study was to investigate the age at menarche and menstrual irregularities in adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

Design

This was an aged-matched, controlled study.

Setting

The study was done in the diabetes center of a children's hospital in Athens and in high schools in major regions of central Greece.

Participants

The study involved two groups: a group of 100 female adolescents, 12 to 18 years of age, with type 1 diabetes; and a control group of 225 healthy adolescents, matched for age.

Main Outcome Measures

The relationship between age at menarche and menstrual irregularities was studied.

Results

The mean age at menarche differed significantly in the two groups (P=0.000). In particular, the mean age at menarche in the study group was 12.2 years (± 1.4) and in the control group it was 11.7 years old (± 1.2). The mean age of menarche was older in the subgroup of adolescents who had received a diagnosis of diabetes before the age of 10 than it was in those diagnosed after the age of 10.

Conclusions

Menarche was observed to be delayed in adolescents with type 1 diabetes who had been diagnosed before the age of 10 in comparison with those diagnosed after the age of 10. Menstrual irregularities were found to be more common in adolescents with type 1 diabetes than in healthy ones.

Key Words: Menarche, Type 1 diabetes, Menstrual irregularities, HbA_1c