menarche

American  

[muh-nahr-kee, me-] / məˈnɑr ki, mɛ- /

noun

Physiology.

1. the first menstrual period; the establishment of menstruation.

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menarche British  

/ mɛˈnɑːkɪ /

noun

1. the first occurrence of menstruation in a woman's life

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menarche Scientific  

/ mə-när′kē /

1. The first menstrual period.

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Other Word Forms

• menarcheal adjective
• menarchial adjective

Etymology

Origin of menarche

1895–1900; men- + archḗ beginning

Example Sentences

While previous studies have shown trends towards earlier menarche over the past five decades, data has been limited on how these trends present within different racial groups and socioeconomic statuses.

From Science Daily

Walker explained that during adolescent development, the beginning of menarche signals the start of a growth spurt that can take up to four years to complete.

From Salon

Women with uterine cancer tended to be older with an earlier age of menarche, or onset of menstruation, a higher body mass index and lower physical activity.

From New York Times

There's also research from the United Kingdom suggesting that those who experience earlier menarche are more likely to report more heavy bleeding and period pain.

From Salon

As part of Caldwell’s research, she catalogues menstrual product advertisements, which appear in the book to illustrate their propensity for puritanical shaming, and interviews family members and friends willing to share stories of their menarche.

From Washington Post