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A study investigated menstrual discomfort as a factor in severe problem behavior in four women with developmental disabilities and identified as having increased behavior problems at the time of menses. A multicomponent strategy, addressing both biological context and the psychosocial context (task demands), reduced problem behavior to near-zero levels. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

Provides a simplified overview of the glands and hormones involved in menses and highlights the consequences of energy deficiency related to abnormal menstrual cycling. Discusses the promotion of energy deficiency on the Web. Concludes that the prevention framework must incorporate the home, school, and larger community in partnership to promote healthful dietary and exercise behaviors. Argues educators must teach female adolescents about the consequences of energy deficiency. (SG)

Identified factors that helped prevent attitudes tolerant of risky sexual behavior among inner-city, African American, preadolescent girls age 10-13 years. Survey data indicated that feminine gender role orientation, self-concept, and ethnic identity related to attitudes less tolerant of risky sexual behaviors. Masculine gender role orientation related to attitudes endorsing risky sexual behaviors. The impact of ethnicity on function was most significant for girls who had experienced menarche. (SM)

Examined gender differences in effects of menarche in females and voice change in males, specifically with regard to depression, self-esteem, body image, and externalizing problems. Analyses indicated prepubertal males had more externalizing problems and females increased in depression, externalizing problems, and negative body image post menarche. (BF)

Uses data from an evaluation of a high school sexuality education program to examine gender relations and production of difference. Participating schools incorporated teaching and learning that normalized sexual diversity and explored HIV-related discrimination and homophobia. Discussion of gender, power, and menstruation and heterosexism and homophobia examines students' language and practices as they worked to establish a sexual identity. (SM)

This study examined whether aspects of pubertal maturation in girls vary across race and ethnicity. Findings highlighted the importance of including socioeconomic factors in exploration of menarcheal differences across race/ethnicity. Perceptions of pubertal timing did not vary across racial/ethnic groups. (SD)

Investigated the effects of menarche on the continuity of adolescent girls' drawing styles. Found that individual styles over a 4-year period were discernible across 6-month intervals but not when the interval spanned menarche, indicating a discontinuity related to developmental transitions. (JPB)

Used between-family analyses of data from adolescent twin girls to offer new evidence that early menarche is associated with earlier initiation and greater frequency of smoking and drinking. Found that association of pubertal timing with substance use could not be explained by between-family confounds, and pubertal timing influence on drinking frequency was apparent only in urban settings. (Author/KB)

Pubertal changes in girls and boys are treated differently in New Zealand schools. Girls learn about menstruation in a scientific, bleak manner, getting an unrealistic picture of growing up. Boys receive positive information about exciting, powerful bodily changes. By protecting girls from problems associated with menstruation, schools risk damaging their self-image, role conceptions, and attitudes toward their bodies and sexuality. (SM)

Conducted a content analysis of 10 years of feminine hygiene advertisements in "Seventeen" and "Teen" magazines. Finds that advertising copy in these magazines works to dispel myths about menstruation but that few black models are shown. Discusses advertising as an element of socialization for adolescent girls. (SLD)

Compared hormone concentrations in 52 pre- and postmenarcheal girls to determine if they fit a dichotomous model of pubertal development surrounding menarche and to study methodological issues of variability in self-reports of menarche. Found discrepancies in reporting the age of menarche and great overlap in hormones between pre- and postmenarcheal categories. (SLD)

Investigates the relationship between sexual abuse and perimenstrual symptoms in female patients (N=68) from an outpatient adolescent health service. Twenty-two participants reported a history of forced sexual experience. No significant differences were found in retrospective or prospective reports of perimenstrual sympstoms. Girls with a history of abuse had significantly more premenstrual symptoms and more menstrual physical complaints. (Author/MKA)

Women in menopause require reassurance and reliable information. Based on concerns expressed in letters (N=7,000), women in premenopause want to know what to expect, in perimenopause they want to know whether their experiences are normal, and in postmenopause they need help in making sensible decisions about the use of hormone therapy. (Author/EMK)

The relationships between self-esteem and gender role identity and the criterion measure of body image were examined for 82 mothers and their daughters of menstrual age and 31 mothers and their premenstrual daughters. Higher self-esteem was related to positive body scores for all groups except premenstrual daughters. (SLD)

Service providers (n=63) were interviewed regarding menstrual management decision making for women with intellectual disabilities. The interviews focused on decision-making bases, opinions about decision-making processes, enhancing practical support for the young women and their families, and reviewing staff training and service delivery. (Author/PB)

This paper describes a project researching the management of menstruation for women who have severe/profound intellectual disability. It outlines the importance of acceptance of menstruation, the possibility of partial participation in menstrual care, key factors to consider in developing skill development activities (such as attitudes of care providers), and an illustrative case study. (JDD)

Comparison of growth rates and menarcheal age for groups of boys and girls, ages 6 to 15, in Tokyo (Japan) found that children with mental retardation had a smaller growth spurt during puberty but did not differ in maturational rate defined by age at pubertal height spurt or age at menarche. (Author/DB)

Catamenial and behavioral records of nine women with mental retardation who exhibited self-injurious behavior (SIB) were analyzed for six months. Analysis confirmed that SIB was cyclic across the menstrual cycle, with the highest frequency occurring in the early follicular and late follicular phases. (Author/JDD)

This paper reviews Family Court of Australia cases concerning performing hysterectomies on premenarchal women who have an intellectual disability, with specific reference to relevant Australian legislation. The paper discusses the implications for women who have an intellectual disability, which may have international applicability. (Author/JDD)

Randomly assigned 30 women with premenstrual syndrome to control group which involved monitoring menstrual cycle symptoms or to conjoint monitoring group which involved both wife and husband in charting cyclic symptoms. Following treatment, Marital Satisfaction Inventory (MSI) scores predicted group membership; conjoint group resulted in significantly greater improvement on specific MSI scores. (Author/NB)

Surveyed women (n=99) aged 35 to 55 about their medical histories, current menstrual events and symptomatology, and perceptions and experiences with menopause. Discovered menopausal women reported their needs were not being met because clinicians lacked sufficient understanding and because of shortage of information resources. Mental health counselors can inform themselves about menopause and provide women-centered therapies. (Author/ABL)

Critiques current menstrual education efforts and reviews current data about the nature of adolescent girls' attitudes toward menstruation as the basis for redesigning comprehensive, effective menstrual education programs. (Author)

Research indicates the process of menstruation has no effect on female college students' academic performance when measured by quantitative tests, and it appears subjective complaints of paramenstrual dysfunction originate in socially mediated beliefs and expectations. Implications for academic assessment, student counseling, employment policy, and participation in higher education are discussed. (MSE)

The relationship between very early menarche and depression was studied in a sample of 488 girls (336 sixth graders and 152 seventh graders), less than 10 percent of whom were very early maturers. Very early menarche was associated with higher levels of depression than was more normative development. (SLD)

Reviews prenatal and postnatal methods of gestational age estimation and evaluates implementation of this information in research. Recommendations concerning the assignment of gestational age in the perinatal period and the use of age correction for preterm infants are offered. (Author/BC)