Question

A nurse is obtaining a health history from a female client who reports that she started menstruating at age 11 years. The nurse would document this as:

A) Precocious puberty
B) Delayed menarche
C) Average onset of menstruation
D) Menopause

Answer 1

The nurse should document the client's menstrual history as 'Average onset of menstruation' since the client began menstruating at age 11 and the broad range of normal menarche is from 8 to 16 years, with an average in the U.S. of 12.5 years.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse is gathering information regarding the female client's reproductive health, specifically the onset of her menstrual cycle. The correct documentation in this case should reflect the average age of menarche for females, as menarche signifies the beginning of menstruation. Considering the client commenced menstruating at age 11, and with the understanding that the average age of onset for menarche ranges broadly from 8 to 16 years, with a U.S. average of 12.5 years, the nurse should document this as C) Average onset of menstruation. This age range for menarche accounts for variations due to genetic, nutritional, and environmental factors. The terminology 'precocious puberty' would be used if the onset was significantly earlier than the average, and 'delayed menarche' would apply if the onset was considerably later. 'Menopause' refers to the cessation of menstrual periods, which typically occurs around age 52.