Question

What is Menarche?

Answer 1

Menarche is defined as the time of onset of the first menstrual period in the female in her adolescence. Menstruation is characterized by the monthly shedding of the inner lining of the uterus that occurs when fertilization is not achieved in an ovulated female.

Complete step by step answer:
It occurs roughly every 28 days but can range from 21 to 45 days as it fluctuates in everyone. The typical age of menarche for a normal female is 12.4 years.
The age of menarche is usually similar to the age of appearance of puberty in most menstruating women. Menarche occurs with the manifestation of secondary sexual characteristics like breast bud development, the appearance of pubic and axillary hair, growth spurt, etc. Each menstrual period persists for about 3 to 7 days, any period that remains for more than 10 days is considered to be abnormal. Menarche represents the physiological maturation of the adolescent female body. It is usually considered to be related to the potential to reproduce. However, the arrival of menarche does not ensure either ovulation or fertility.

Additional Information:
In a normal female, the sequence of events of puberty is as follows:
- Ovaries increase Oestrogen and Progesterone production.
- Development of female genitalia.
- Breast buds begin to develop (Telarche)
- Pubic hair begins to appear. (Pubarche)
- Weight increased along with the widening of hips due to the growth of organs and musculature.
- Menarche-Appearance of the first Menstrual bleed.

Note: The reproductive age of the woman continues until the appearance of menopause wherein there is no ovum left for ovulation resulting in decreased production of Estrogen and Progesterone. Menopause typically appears between the 40s to the 50s of age.