The onset of menarche: a late event in pubertal progression to be affected by physical training.

Several studies have shown that involvement in certain sports activities could lead to a significant delay in the onset of menarche. It is here emphasized that the latter constitutes a late pubertal event and that research in kinanthropology should now focus on processes underlying menarche. Some findings indeed suggest an influence of certain physical activities upon the maturation rate of endocrine axes which lead to the onset of the first menses.