Girls are getting their first periods earlier. Here's what parents should know

Girls in the U.S. are getting their first menstrual period about 6 months earlier on average than they did in the 1950s and 60s, with more beginning before age 9, per a study in JAMA Network Open.

Understanding the trend of earlier menstruation is vital, as it serves as a health indicator. Irregular cycles, prevalent in the study, are linked to various health conditions.

Read at www.npr.org