Abstract
Stated in the folliwing are the findings of the statistical observation made on a total of 7, 702 female students covering all the districts in Okinawa.
1. Mean age of menarche was 14 years and 7 month and it was observed mostly in the age of 14 years followed by 13 years. This mean age was equivalent to most of the post-war reports made in the Japan proper.
2. Staistical significant difference was observed in the age of menarche by district, namely, it was rather early in Yaeyama district, urban district of the main island and also in the southern, northern and middle parts of the main island, while it was rather retard in Miyako island.
3. Significant difference was also observed by the difference in family occupation. Namely, the menarche appeared earlier in the families of general salaried people, free occupation, mineral industry and commerce, while it was retard in the families of agriculture, forestry and fishery. These findings were in agreement with previous reports.
4. Menstrual cycle was mostly 30 days type occupying 45.930 followed by 28.47% of 28 days type. Its mean was 29.28% and was in agreement with other reports. There was no significant difference by district or age.
5. As for the regularity of menstrual cycle, 85.12% were regular and 14.88% were irregular. The rate of irregular cases was lower than that of the other reports. There was no difference by district.
6. Mostly, the menstrual amount was medium occupying 75.77%. There was no significant difference by age or district.
7. The period from menarche to the second menstruation was mostly 1 month being observed in 32.63 %. In most cases, moreover, the second menstruation was observed within 6 months. The period from menarche to the second menstruation was shorter among younger girls than that of the elder ones and this relationship had statistic significance.
8. Menstrual duration was mostly 4-5 days being observed in 59%. Those with the period lasting 1-3 days and 6-7 days were found in nearly 20% each. Those with lesser menstrual amount showed shorter menstrual duration and this relationship was staistically significant. There was no difference by age and district.
9. Menstrual distresses were observed in 84.83%. This figure was relatively high in comparison with that of the other reports. As for the intensity of those distresses, those unable to work were found in 4.19%, lower abdominal pain in 46.41% and the others were general fatigure, lumbar pain and headache in the order listed.
