A history of early menarche may help identify women at higher risk of developing gestational diabetes, new Australian research has found.

The study followed more than 4,700 women aged 25 years between 2000 and 2102, and compared self-reported age of menarche with a first diagnosis of gestational diabetes. Overall, 357 women (7.5%) developed gestational diabetes during the study period.

For each year of earlier menarche, the risk of gestational diabetes was 10% higher. For instance, women who started their periods at or before 11 years of age were 51% more likely to develop gestational diabetes than women whose first period started at 13 years.

Professor Gita Mishra, director of the Australian Longitudinal Study of Women’s Health (ALSWH), said the findings were consistent with other research showing younger age of menarche was associated with type 2 diabetes risk.

“We encourage the ongoing monitoring of women with early age at menarche – from pre-conception to post-menopause – as it could be a biological marker for poorer reproductive and health outcomes across life,” she said.

In particular, the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle should be emphasised for these women.

The study found women who experienced early menarche were more likely to report being overweight in childhood and were more likely to be either overweight or obese as adults.

“Overweight and obesity could be seen as a common cause in that excessive bodyweight could be associated with both early menarche and also with the risk of gestational diabetes,” Professor Mishra said.

However additional mechanisms were also involved.

“Early menarche has been associated with higher estrogen and lower sex hormone-binding globulin levels and these have been speculated to have a role in the development of gestational diabetes,” she said.

Genetic factors and early childhood stressors may also contribute to the link between early age at menarche and gestational diabetes.

However the association has not been consistently reported. The Nurses’ Health Study found an association between early menarche and gestational diabetes, however it was not maintained after adjustment for adult BMI.

The ALSWH has also recently reported on a link between early menarche and premature or early menopause.