Development of adult atopy appears to be less common among those whose mothers experienced a late menarche, say researchers from Finland (Thorax 2000;55:691).
Mothers who began their periods at the age of 12 or younger were 43 per cent more likely to have children who went on to develop atopic allergies than those who had started their periods at the age of 16 or above. The study did not find any association between maternal age at menarche and asthma. Age at menarche was seen as a marker of endogenous oestrogen levels.