menarche
noun
men·ar·che
ˈme-ˌnär-kē 
: the beginning of the menstrual function
especially
: the first menstrual period of an individual
Examples of menarche in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The parents involved are responding to a nationwide trend: The average age of menarche in the US has shifted earlier, from 12.5 between 1950 and 1969 to 11.9 between 2000 and 2005, according to a 2024 study.
—
Anna North, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
Less than 9% had menarche — the scientific term for a girl’s first menstrual period — before age 11, which is considered early.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC News, 19 Oct. 2024
Rates of early and very early menarche also increased, jumping to 15.5% and 1.4%, respectively.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC News, 19 Oct. 2024
The only innocence lost with my menarche was realizing how cruel and complicated the world could be.
—Caroline Colvin, Health, 9 Mar. 2024
Early menarche is also associated with lower birth weight, as well as rapid childhood weight gain, supporting the theory that the physiology of body composition could govern the mechanism that kicks off puberty.
—Haley Weiss, Time, 7 Aug. 2023
First, those that cannot be easily modified: age at menarche, age at birth of first child, family history, genes like BRCA1.
—Richard Stevens, Discover Magazine, 21 Apr. 2015
The transformation—which occurs for the first time behind a closed bathroom door, accompanied by screams that Ming hilariously mistakes for the arrival of her daughter’s menarche—isn’t prompted only by rage.
—Joe Morgenstern, WSJ, 10 Mar. 2022
Two of the most notable milestones are the beginning of menstruation, or menarche, in girls and the beginning of sperm production, or spermarche, with boys.
—Elissa Strauss, CNN, 3 Aug. 2021
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Anna North, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
Less than 9% had menarche — the scientific term for a girl’s first menstrual period — before age 11, which is considered early.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC News, 19 Oct. 2024
Rates of early and very early menarche also increased, jumping to 15.5% and 1.4%, respectively.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC News, 19 Oct. 2024
The only innocence lost with my menarche was realizing how cruel and complicated the world could be.
—Caroline Colvin, Health, 9 Mar. 2024
Early menarche is also associated with lower birth weight, as well as rapid childhood weight gain, supporting the theory that the physiology of body composition could govern the mechanism that kicks off puberty.
—Haley Weiss, Time, 7 Aug. 2023
First, those that cannot be easily modified: age at menarche, age at birth of first child, family history, genes like BRCA1.
—Richard Stevens, Discover Magazine, 21 Apr. 2015
The transformation—which occurs for the first time behind a closed bathroom door, accompanied by screams that Ming hilariously mistakes for the arrival of her daughter’s menarche—isn’t prompted only by rage.
—Joe Morgenstern, WSJ, 10 Mar. 2022
Two of the most notable milestones are the beginning of menstruation, or menarche, in girls and the beginning of sperm production, or spermarche, with boys.
—Elissa Strauss, CNN, 3 Aug. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Menarche.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/menarche. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
menarche
noun
men·ar·che
ˈmen-ˌär-kē
: the beginning of the menstrual function
especially
: the first menstrual period of an individual
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share