Reproductive Milestones Are Under Assault Part 1 of 4 – Early Puberty
Girls are sexually maturing (puberty) and menstruating (menarche) at younger and younger ages. Historically, menarche occurred between 15-17 years of age. Puberty and menarche ages began to decline in the 1950’s, remaining stable at an average age of 12. This began occurring shortly after tens of thousands of chemicals began to be dumped into our environment at the end of WWII in 1945. New scientific studies are showing that the ages of puberty and menarche are declining once again, to as young as 8-10 years old. Reproductive toxicologists in Puerto Rico have consistently been reporting that 6 month old infants are showing sexual maturation signs of breast buds. Early puberty and menarche puts girls at risk as they age for obesity, heart disease, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and breast cancer, as well as mood disorders and behavioral issues such as anxiety, depression and substance abuse. Women are also going into perimenopause and menopause younger as well. This increases their risk of anxiety, depression, fatigue, brain fog, and vulnerability to heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Liz Kerby, C.H.C., A.A.D.P