Showing papers on "Menarche published in 1991"
TL;DR: Normal pubertal development is characterized by major physical alterations: sexual maturation, changes in body composition, and rapid skeletal growth.
151 citations
TL;DR: The median menarcheal age of 107 girls adopted from India by families in Sweden was 11.6 years, which was significantly lower than in Swedish and most Indian studies, and factors associated with the rapid transition from an underprivileged to a privileged environment are probably involved.
Abstract: The median menarcheal age of 107 girls adopted from India by families in Sweden was 11.6 years, which was significantly lower than in Swedish and most Indian studies. Five girls had menarche before ...
151 citations
TL;DR: After adjusting for height and Quetelet's index, menarcheal age was not associated with intake of energy nor energy-adjusted intake of protein, fat, or carbohydrate, consistent with the hypothesis that nutritional factors influence age at menarches mainly through their effects on accumulation of adipose tissue.
145 citations
TL;DR: The role of age at menarche and at menopause on epithelial ovarian cancer risk was re‐assessed in a combined analysis of 3 hospital‐based case‐control studies conducted in Italy, the United Kingdom and Greece, which produced a total of 1, 140 cases and 2,724 controls.
Abstract: The role of age at menarche and at menopause on epithelial ovarian cancer risk was re-assessed in a combined analysis of 3 hospital-based case-control studies conducted in Italy, the United Kingdom and Greece, which produced a total of 1, 140 cases and 2,724 controls. In the overall dataset, there was no evidence of an association with age at menarche: compared with women whose menarche occurred at age I5 or over, the relative risk (RR) estimates were 1.0[95% confidence interval (CI) 0.8 to 1.2] for those with menarche at ages 12 to 14, and 1.0 (95% CI 0.8-1.2) for those with menarche below age 12. There was no consistent interaction between age at menarche and study centre or age at diagnosis. In relation to age at menopause, compared with women whose menopause occurred at age 44 or earlier, the RR was 1.4 between 45 and 49, 1.6 between 50 and 52 and 1.9 above 52. The strength of the association was apparently (but not significantly) greater in the British than in the Greek or Italian dataset. The effect of age at menopause tended to be long-lasting and, if anything, to increase across subsequent age-groups. The large dataset, and the replication of results in different studies, provide more definite and precise information than previously available on the absence of appreciable effect of age at menarche on subsequent ovarian cancer risk in developed countries. For age at menopause, there was a direct and consistent trend in risk, but the association was relatively weak, with RRs below 2 even between extreme categories.
118 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that because of the nature of the interpersonal and intrapsychic processes occurring in the family around menarche, conflict may facilitate familial adaptation to pubertal change and make moderate levels of conflict normative in healthy families.
Abstract: Prior research has established that temporary perturbations characterize parent-daughter relations around menarche. This study was designed to determine whether the observed perturbations are indicative of conflictive engagement, operationally defined as sequential reciprocity of interruptions and disagreements, and to examine the affective nature of such behaviors. Sequential analyses were applied to the observed behavior of 111 intact families with firstborn seventh-grade girls (modal age = 12 years old) who participated in a structured family interaction task. Results indicated that conflictive engagement with parents is more frequent shortly after menarche, especially in the mother-daughter dyad. Withdrawal of positive affect also was associated with menarcheal status; in the mother-daughter dyad, interruptions and disagreements were less often responded to with positive affect for the more mature groups. It is suggested that because of the nature of the interpersonal and intrapsychic processes occurring in the family around menarche, conflict may facilitate familial adaptation to pubertal change and make moderate levels of conflict normative in healthy families.
109 citations
TL;DR: Consideration of the body of evidence on these factors, as well as that on age at menopause, suggests that the cumulative frequency of ovulatory menstrual cycles is a critical determinant of breast cancer risk.
Abstract: Part of the international differences in breast cancer incidence rates can be explained by geographic variation in reproductive and other breast cancer risk factors. Age at menarche and age at onset of regular ovulatory menstrual cycles are two such factors; both vary across populations directly according to breast cancer risk, and both are acknowledged as breast cancer risk factors. Consideration of the body of evidence on these factors, as well as that on age at menopause, suggests that the cumulative frequency of ovulatory menstrual cycles is a critical determinant of breast cancer risk. Although age at first term pregnancy explains the majority of the protective effect of parity on breast cancer risk, two recent studies have demonstrated a small residual protective effect of increasing number of births. It appears that pregnancy has paradoxical effects on breast cancer risk in terms of hormone production and metabolism. The initial effect is an increased risk associated with first trimester estrogen exposure. However, the hormonal consequences of completing the pregnancy counteract this negative effect of early pregnancy. The effect of body weight, a breast cancer risk factor for postmenopausal women, can be explained in terms of increased extraglandular conversion of androstenedione to estrone. Further evidence supporting a pathogenic role of estrogens in the development of breast cancer comes from international studies of endogenous hormones in populations with differing risks of breast cancer. These risk factors have been incorporated into a mathematical model which is based on the concept that breast tissue ages according to hormonal (primarily estrogen) exposure; this model closely predicts the incidence rates throughout the world.
99 citations
TL;DR: A family history of recurrent miscarriage was more common among women with spontaneous miscarriages than among the controls and current smokers had about a 40% increased risk of miscarriage and the risk increased with number of cigarettes per day.
Abstract: A case-control study was conducted to evaluate risk factors for spontaneous abortions. Cases were 94 women with two or more unexplained miscarriages (after exclusion of genetic, endocrine and Mullerian factors) and no term pregnancy, controls were 176 women admitted for normal delivery to the same clinic where cases were identified. Questions were asked about personal characteristics and habits, and gynaecological history. A family history of recurrent miscarriage was more common among women with spontaneous miscarriages than among the controls (13 cases versus 8 controls, relative risk (RR) = 3.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.3-8.1). Compared to women whose menarche occurred at age 11 or younger, the RRs were 0.8 when menarche occurred at age 12-13 and 0.5 at age 14 or more: this trend in risk was statistically significant. Compared with never smokers, current smokers had about a 40% increased risk of miscarriage and the risk increased with number of cigarettes per day. No association emerged with sociodemographic characteristics (e.g. education, marital status, age of the partner), reproductive history (age at first pregnancy), type of contraceptive used and other general lifestyle habits (e.g. alcohol or coffee consumption).
79 citations
TL;DR: A case-control study of 268 patients with endometrial cancer and 268 population controls was conducted during 1988-1990 in Shanghai, China, to evaluate etiologic factors in a population whose risk had not been substantially altered by the use of exogenous estrogens as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: A case-control study of 268 patients with endometrial cancer and 268 population controls was conducted during 1988-1990 in Shanghai, China, to evaluate etiologic factors in a population whose risk had not been substantially altered by the use of exogenous estrogens. In spite of this, the major risk factors resembled those found in other studies. The risk of endometrial cancer was significantly elevated among nulligravidas (OR = 5.4, 95% CI = 2.0-14.6) and decreased with number of pregnancies (p less than 0.01). Late age at menopause was associated with increased risk, while early age at menarche was unrelated. Use of oral contraceptives for more than 2 years was associated with a reduction in endometrial cancer risk (OR = 0.4, 95% CI = 0.1-1.2), while short-term use of oral contraceptives and other methods of contraception were unrelated. Obesity was a strong predictor of risk, with women in the highest quartile of weight having 2.5 times the risk of those in the lowest quartile. In contrast to many other studies, cigarette smokers were at elevated risk (OR = 1.7, 95% CI = 0.9-3.0). Risk was also elevated among women reporting a history of gall-bladder disease, polycystic ovaries, menstrual symptoms, and non-estrogen hormone use.
77 citations
TL;DR: Age at menarche was studied in relation to the 'Dutch Famine' at the end of the Second World War to show effects due to a modest limitation of caloric intake such as accomplished by the food rationing may be more relevant as to its public health impact on cancer risk reduction.
Abstract: SummaryIn a retrospective cohort study on 21,067 women who participated in the DOM project, a breast cancer screening programme, age at menarche was studied in relation to the ‘Dutch Famine’ at the end of the Second World War. Menarche showed a delay during the entire war period, disrupting a secular trend pattern in both urban and rural areas. This delay could be explained by circumstances of general dearth and food rationing. The data did not show a clear effect of famine exposure over and above effects related to the entire war period. Where age at menarche is a risk factor for breast cancer, effects due to a modest limitation of caloric intake such as accomplished by the food rationing may be more relevant as to its public health impact on cancer risk reduction than any additional effects due to outright starvation as occurred during the ‘hungerwinter’.
77 citations
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that girls with constitutional delay in growth and puberty reached their PAH, although this was lower than the midparental heights, and treatment to advance growth should be considered more frequently.
Abstract: During a 10-year period, 23 girls compared to 118 boys presented with constitutional delay in growth and puberty. Of these girls, 15 were followed to final height to determine the outcome of the untreated condition in terms of both growth and psychological well-being. At presentation chronological age was 13.2 (1.7) years [mean (S.D.)], bone age delay 2.7 (0.9) years, standing height standard deviation score (SDS) −3.4 (0.9), and predicted adult height (PAH) SDS −1.3 (0.7) (Tanner-Whitehouse II method). Final height SDS was −1.5 (0.8) measured at 18.9 (2.6) years of age. Mean age at menarche was 15.6 (0.9) years. There was no significant difference between final adult height (FH) and PAH but there was a significant difference between FH and target height (P<0.001). Psychological questionnaires revealed no significant difference in self-esteem, marital or employment status between the patient and control groups. There was no significant correlation between self-esteem and FH but 80% felt their growth delay had affected success either at school, work or socially. Of the patients, 50% would have preferred treatment to advance their growth spurt. This study demonstrates that girls with constitutional delay in growth and puberty reached their PAH, although this was lower than the midparental heights. The girls also experienced significant distress due to delayed growth and puberty and treatment to advance growth should be considered more frequently.
74 citations
TL;DR: Girls who participated in dance, gymnastic figure skating, synchronized swimming, or diving competitions had a lower risk of reaching menarche at an early age, and weight, height, body mass index, and abdominal and supra-iliac skinfolds were inversely associated with age of menstruation.
Abstract: Early menarche has been associated with higher risk of breast cancer A prospective study of 2487 girls, has been conducted in Quebec City, Canada, to evaluate the relationship of exercise to menarche, taking personal and family characteristics into account Weight, height, body mass index, and abdominal and supra-iliac skinfolds were inversely associated with age of menstruation Mother's age at menarche was positively associated with age of menstruation Age, mother's age at menarche, and weight-adjusted incidence density ratios (IDR) showed no association between energy expenditure and onset of menstruation Girls who participated in dance, gymnastic figure skating, synchronized swimming, or diving competitions had a lower risk of reaching menarche at an early age (IDR = 071 (051-097))
TL;DR: The effects of family history on breast cancer risk are studied, providing further indication of the separate roles of a mother's and sister's history in breast cancer etiology.
Abstract: We studied the effects of family history on breast cancer risk among 2,908 cases and 3,180 controls, selected from participants in a nationwide screening project. First-degree family history was associated with a twofold risk increase. Second-degree family history effects were minimal, after adjusting for effects of first-degree relatives. Family history effects were not confounded by age at menarche, age at first full-term birth, age at natural menopause, or previous benign breast disease. Risks from mother's and sister's history were independent. The odds ratio (OR) from a maternal history, 1.9 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.6-2.3), varied little by the subject's age at diagnosis, menopause status, or disease laterality. Interactions of maternal history effects with multiple breast biopsies and age at menopause were greater than additive, indicating common mechanistic pathways. The OR from a sister's history was 2.3 (95% CI: 1.9-2.8) and was increased among women who were less than 45 (OR = 6.9), had bilateral disease (OR = 4.7), or were premenopausal (OR = 4.4). The effects from a mother's history and a sister's history are modified in different directions by different factors, providing further indication of the separate roles of a mother's and sister's history in breast cancer etiology.
TL;DR: After the continuous trend towards an earlier maturation of Polish girls from 1955 to 1978 a substantial slowing down, and even a reverse trend, was observed, which seems to have been caused by the retardation of menarcheal age in social groups which in the previous examinations were the earliest maturers.
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to describe secular growth changes in age at menarche of girls in Poland during the past 40 years. For this purpose data obtained from four consecutive surveys conducted in 1955, 1966, 1978 and 1988 were analysed. Each cohort was selected from settlements: big cities, small towns (approximately 10,000 inhabitants) and villages. Data regarding schoolgirls aged 7-18 years were collected by the status quo method. It was found that after the continuous trend towards an earlier maturation of Polish girls from 1955 to 1978 a substantial slowing down, and even a reverse trend, was observed. The deceleration of the age at menarche is most marked among girls from small towns. The results seem to have been caused by the retardation of menarcheal age in social groups which in the previous examinations were the earliest maturers.
TL;DR: Age at menarche is reported for 1,365 European, 530 Afro-Caribbean and 282 Indo-Pakistani schoolgirls taking part in a cross-sectional anthropometric survey in the London Area Health Authorities of Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster, and Brent and Harrow, in 1980-81.
Abstract: SummaryAge at menarche is reported for 1,365 European, 530 Afro-Caribbean and 282 Indo-Pakistani schoolgirls taking part in a cross-sectional anthropometric survey in the London Area Health Authorities of Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster, and Brent and Harrow, in 1980–81. Mean ages at menarche are 13·59±0·37 years (European), 13·18±0·11 years (Afro-Caribbean) and 13·06±0·20 years (Indo-Pakistani). The European value is significantly higher than those for Afro-Caribbean and Indo-Pakistani girls, and for Europeans living in the same areas of London in 1966. Social class has an effect on age at menarche in Afro-Caribbean and European girls, but not Indo-Pakistani girls, whilst family size has an effect on age at menarche in Europeans and Indo-Pakistanis.
TL;DR: Nulliparity was found to be a risk factor in premenopausal women only and the relative risk increased with age at marriage and age at first birth, while single women had higher risk than married women.
Abstract: Five hundred and thirty-one histologically confirmed breast carcinoma cases examined from 1983 to 1986 inclusive at the Cancer Institute (WIA), Madras, India, were matched for age, socioeconomic class and menopausal status with an equal number of controls. Cancer patients without diseases in breast, gynaecological organs or endocrine glands were used as controls. Risk factors for breast cancer were analyzed separately in the premenopausal and the postmenopausal groups. In neither group was there significant association between age at menarche and breast cancer risk. Single women had higher risk than married women. Nulliparity was found to be a risk factor in premenopausal women only. The relative risk increased with age at marriage and age at first birth. A three-fold risk was noted in both pre- and postmenopausal groups when the interval between age at first birth and menarche was more than 12 years and also in women who attained menopause between the age of 44-49.
TL;DR: A study concerning the menarcheal age of Stockholm schoolgirls was conducted in 1990 in order to investigate whether the secular trend in menarchesal age was still going on or not and the results are discussed.
Abstract: The secular trend regarding the height of Swedish schoolchildren seemed in the early 1980s to have come to a halt except around the age at which peak height velocity (PHV) generally occurs. This indicated that the trend regarding a continuous earlier physical maturation rate had still been going on, when comparing Swedish children born in 1955 and 1967 (1). Studies concerning the menarcheal age of Swedish schoolgirls were at the time, however, relatively old (2-5), therefore in 1990 a study concerning the menarcheal age of Stockholm schoolgirls was conducted in order to investigate whether the secular trend in menarcheal age was still going on or not. Our purpose is thus to report and discuss the results of this study.
TL;DR: Current concepts of normal and pathologic puberty have been reviewed, and the key event in normal puberty is the commencement of pulsatile secretion of GnRH during sleep, which leads to augmentation of LH levels with the onset of sleep.
TL;DR: A large-scale study of women in the age range 20–40 years is necessary to investigate this important issue more thoroughly and find little evidence in these premenopausal women in their thirties of an effect of age at menarche on estrogen levels.
Abstract: It has recently been reported that women with a recorded early menarche had approximately two-fold greater follicular phase serum E2 (estradiol) levels than women with menarche at age 13 or later. We have evaluated E1 (estrone) and E2 concentrations in the blood, and estrogen concentrations in the urine, in two groups of premenopausal women (mean ages 33 and 38 years) for categories of age at menarche. Study subjects were 106 Caucasian women in the United States (assessed for E1, E2, and urinary estrogens) and 39 women from Shanghai, China (assessed for E2). US subjects were classified according to whether their recalled menarche occurred before age 12, at age 12, or at age 13 or older. The mean age at recalled menarche of the Shanghai subjects was considerably older, and their ages at menarche were classified as less than age 15, age 15, and age 16 or older. We found little evidence in these premenopausal women in their thirties of an effect of age at menarche on estrogen levels. A large-scale study of women in the age range 20-40 years is necessary to investigate this important issue more thoroughly.
TL;DR: A case-control study was conducted on 91 cases with histologically confirmed borderline ovarian tumours and 237 control subjects in hospital for acute non-gynaecological, hormonal or neoplastic disease as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: A case-control study was conducted on 91 cases with histologically-confirmed borderline ovarian tumours and 237 control subjects in hospital for acute non-gynaecological, hormonal or neoplastic disease. Women reporting three or more births, compared to nulliparae, had a relative risk (RR) estimate of 0.6, but this finding was not statistically significant (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.2-1.4). The risk of borderline tumours increased, although not significantly, with later age at first birth: compared to women reporting first birth at age 24 or before, the RRs were 1.3 and 1.7 in those reporting respectively their first birth at age 25-29 and 30 years or more. No significant relationship emerged between borderline ovarian cancer and age at menarche, menopausal status and lifelong menstrual pattern. Cases tended to report a later age at menopause than controls, but the trend in risk was not statistically significant. Nine cases (9.9%) and 68 controls (24.9%) reported oral contraceptive use: compared with never users the multivariate RR for ever users was 0.3, and the risk dropped with duration of use to 0.2 in users for two years or more (chi 2 (1) trend = 12.70, p less than 0.001). This study provides epidemiological evidence of a pathogenetic continuum between borderline and invasive ovarian tumours.
TL;DR: Age at last birth, number of abortions, years between marriage and first birth, age at menarche, pattern of menstrual cycle and occurrence of a few medical conditions potentially linked to female hormones were investigated in a case-control study conducted in Pordenone province in northeastern Italy.
TL;DR: The data suggest that juvenile primary hypothyroidism results in a permanent height deficit in girls and there is a loss of the normal harmony between growth and sexual maturation in girls, despite adequate treatment, in that growth continues for much longer after menarche than in normal girls.
Abstract: The long term growth of 20 girls and nine boys with juvenile primary hypothyroidism was studied until they reached final height. At diagnosis the girls had a mean age of 8.8 years (range 3.0-13.0); mean bone age was 5.4 years. The mean age of the boys at diagnosis was 9.5 years (range 3.7-14.2); mean bone age was 6.3 years. The patients were treated with thyroxine 100 micrograms/m2/day and serum thyroxine concentrations were maintained in the normal range. During treatment the rate of skeletal maturation exceeded the change in chronological age. Initial mean height SD score for bone age before treatment in the girls was +0.59 and after 11 years of treatment fell to -0.55 Mean height SD score for bone age in the boys decreased from +1.6 to -0.87 during treatment. In the girls the onset of puberty was 1.2 years later than the normal population but the duration of puberty was reduced. Mean age (SD) of menarche was 13.8 (1.7) years. The pattern of growth in girls with treated hypothyroidism was abnormal as growth continued after menarche, at a time when normal girls have almost stopped growing. During the second year after menarche our patients still had a mean growth velocity of 4.1 cm/year. Our data suggest that juvenile primary hypothyroidism results in a permanent height deficit. In addition, there is a loss of the normal harmony between growth and sexual maturation in girls, despite adequate treatment, in that growth continues for much longer after menarche than in normal girls.
TL;DR: A study of 153 women with persistent pelvic pain and pelvic joint instability (PPPJI) following parturition, revealed that the women differed from the controls by a significantly lower age at menarche, suggesting that use of OC affects the hypothalamus in a manner similar to that associated with very early puberty.
TL;DR: The decline in menarcheal age over the last 40 years is thought to be due to improving socioeconomic conditions, but differences between urban and rural groups remain, and within rural groups there appears to be considerable variation inMenarchesal age.
Abstract: Age at menarche was estimated using status quo techniques on a sample of 230 rural South African females aged 11 to 17 years. Mean age of menarche was 14.03 years (SD = 1.25 years). Compared with contemporary rural and well-off urban samples, these females experienced menarche 0.6 years earlier than did the rural sample and 0.8 years later than the well-off urban group. Data from 11 previously reported studies of menarcheal age in urban and rural girls were analyzed with these data to determine the existence and magnitude of secular trends and whether rates differed between urban and rural environments. Regression analysis demonstrated a clear secular trend in both urban and rural females since 1943. Menarcheal age decreased at a rate of 0.34, 0.73, and 0.46 years per decade for rural, urban, and combined groups, respectively. The decline in menarcheal age over the last 40 years is thought to be due to improving socioeconomic conditions, but differences between urban and rural groups remain. Within rural groups there appears to be considerable variation in menarcheal age.
TL;DR: The relationships between several anthropometric data and age at menarche in 2,494 women aged 25 to 74 years from the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were examined to reject a specific association between menarches and central body fat distribution.
Abstract: Women with increased adiposity have been shown to have earlier menarche. However, the association between menarche and body fat distribution has been controversial. The present study examined relationships between several anthropometric data and age at menarche in 2,494 women aged 25 to 74 years from the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Early menarche was similarly related to adiposity as measured by body mass index (BMI), skinfolds representative of central adiposity (subscapular and iliac), and skinfolds representative of peripheral adiposity (triceps and calf). These relationships persisted after controlling for a variety of influences such as socioeconomic status; they were consistent in all three ethnic groups studied, but were significant only in Puerto Rican women. Ratios of central/peripheral skinfold measures were not associated with menarche. These analyses describe the relationship between early maturation and overall adiposity in three distinct Hispanic groups and reject a specific association between menarche and central body fat distribution.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The present observations suggest that the onset of puberty is strongly influenced by environment but its attainment is under the genetical control.
Abstract: The pubertal growth pattern was observed on 791 girls belonging to upper and low SES. These girls ranged between 7-16 years. The effect of calorie intake on the pubertal growth was also ascertained. The development of breast was first to appear at the age of 8.25 years. It was followed by pubic and axillary hair development. The mean age of menarche was 12 years and 12.8 years for USES and LSES, respectively. The onset of menarche, breast and pubic hair was significantly delayed in LSES girls by 0.8 years. Menarche was found to correlate better with breast development than pubic or axillary hair. The girls on adequate calories showed early onset of breast, pubic hair and axillary hair development and of menarche. Similarly, these girls attained mature stage (adult) of these variables earlier compared to those who were on inadequate calories. However, intermittent developmental stages of pubic hair and axillary hair showed no consistency with intake of calories. The girls on inadequate calories showed approximately one year late onset of breast and pubic hair development. The present observations suggest that the onset of puberty is strongly influenced by environment but its attainment is under the genetical control.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: A higher prevalence of 71.8% of any grade of dysmenorrhoea was found in this study when compared with figures from developed countries, and the short mean duration of irregular menstruation were taken to be evidence of early establishment of regular ovular menstruation.
Abstract: Nine hundred and fifty secondary school girls aged between 10 and 18 years were randomly selected and surveyed. Information on their age at menarche, regularity of menstruation at onset and the time of survey and length of period of irregularity were sought using a well structured questionnaire. Estimation of blood loss per period premenstrual symptoms and signs, prevalence and severity of dysmenorrhoea were also inquired about. This study demonstrated a secular trend in the age at menarche when compared with other similar studies conducted in the previous decade in Nigeria. A higher prevalence of 71.8% of any grade of dysmenorrhoea was found in this study when compared with figures from developed countries, this and the short mean duration of irregular menstruation (3.7 months after menarche) were taken to be evidence of early establishment of regular ovular menstruation.
TL;DR: In British women, previous oral contraceptive users had significantly lower luteal phase E2 concentrations than never users, and in Japanese subjects in the lutingal phase, a marginally higher concentration of E2 was observed in those who had undergone an early rather than a late menarche.
Abstract: In a cross-sectional study, serum estradiol (E2) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) concentrations were not significantly related to age at menarche in premenopausal British women in the luteal or follicular phases of the cycle. In Japanese subjects in the luteal phase, a marginally higher concentration of E2 was observed in those who had undergone an early rather than a late menarche. In British women, previous oral contraceptive users had significantly lower luteal phase E2 concentrations than never users.
TL;DR: A hospital-based case-control study was conducted in Southern France to assess the pattern of established risk factors for breast cancer and to examine its variation according to age at diagnosis, which suggests a complex involvement of the reproductive and sociodemographic features with the various stages of the 'natural history' of breast cancer.
Abstract: A hospital-based case-control study was conducted over 4 years in Southern France to assess the pattern of established risk factors for breast cancer and to examine its variation according to age at diagnosis. Cases studied (450) were women admitted to the Montpellier Cancer Institute, with histologically confirmed primary breast carcinoma. Controls (576) were patients from a nearby hospital admitted in the early stages of a neurological or mild psychological diseases and from a clinic for general surgery. Any patient with malignant tumours, chronic and cardiovascular diseases were excluded. The total population globally showed the commonly reported pattern for these risk factors. When stratified by age, the reproductive factors occurring early in life (menarche, first full term pregnancy) were shown to be significant risk factors only in the youngest group of patients and do not seem to influence risk in older women, for whom risk factors are those occurring later in life (menopause, obesity). This suggests a complex involvement of the reproductive and sociodemographic features with the various stages of the 'natural history' of breast cancer.
TL;DR: Normal premenopausal Japanese women have significantly more favourable mammographic parenchymal patterns (Wolfe Grades) than comparable British women.
Abstract: Normal premenopausal Japanese women have significantly more favourable mammographic parenchymal patterns (Wolfe Grades) than comparable British women. This finding is unaffected when the women are stratified by age, Quetelet's Index, age at menarche, age at first birth, and parity.
TL;DR: The results suggest possible similarities and differences in menstrual and reproductive risk factors among histologic types of uterine sarcoma, and between these malignancies and the more common breast, endometrial and ovarian carcinomas.
Abstract: To determine whether the occurrence of one or more histologic types of uterine sarcoma is related to events in a woman's reproductive life, a population-based case-control study was conducted. One-hundred sixty-seven women newly diagnosed with uterine sarcoma among residents of 6 geographic regions were compared to 208 women selected at random from the same populations with regard to histories of menstruation, pregnancy and childbearing, and breast feeding, as reported during a telephone interview. Compared to women whose menstrual periods began at age 13, women whose menses began earlier were at increased risk of leiomyosarcoma (OR = 2.0, 95% CI 0.9, 4.3); other histologic types were less strongly associated with early age at menarche. Women with leiomyosarcoma and endometrial stromal sarcoma, but not malignant mixed Mullerian tumors, tended to have ceased menstruating 2-3 years later than controls. None of the histologic types was clearly related to parity or to age at first live birth, but each was inversely related to age at last live birth. Associations were observed between leiomyosarcoma and histories of an induced abortion (OR = 4.2, 95% CI 1.2, 14.2) and of breast feeding after a live birth (OR = 0.5, 95% CI 0.3, 1.0); these relationships were not observed for other morphologic variants. These results suggest possible similarities and differences in menstrual and reproductive risk factors among histologic types of uterine sarcoma, and between these malignancies and the more common breast, endometrial and ovarian carcinomas.