Your Cramps Could Become More Painful
Even though your periods might come less frequently or be lighter than before, you’ll still likely experience those gut-churning crampsâand they might be worse. “Cramps can get worse in the beginning of perimenopause due to the closer and stronger surges of estrogen and progesterone,” said Dr. Gupta. The good news, however, is that as you close in on menopause, your flow shows up less often and is lighterâhence, less cramps, Dr. Gupta said.
Starting Periods At A Young Age Is Linked To Early Menopause
Girl talk: puberty hits younger and younger
Women are more likely to go through menopause early if they started menstruating before their 12th birthday.
This is the conclusion of the largest study of its kind, involving 50,000 postmenopausal women in the UK, Australia, Japan and Scandinavia.
On average, a first period arrived around age 13 and the last when the women were 50. But 14 per cent had their first period before they were 12, and 10 per cent had their last period before they turned 45.
To investigate whether there was a link between early menstruation and early menopause, Gita Mishra at the University of Queensland, Australia, and her colleagues performed a statistical analysis, adjusting for possible confounding variables like weight and smoking.
They found that women who began menstruating before the age of 12 were 31 per cent more likely to have an early menopause between the ages of 40 and 44.
Of the women who had their first period when they were 13, only 1.8 per cent had premature menopause , and 7.2 per cent reached menopause early. But in women who had their first period when they were 11 or younger, 3.1 per cent had premature menopause, and 8.8 per cent went through it early.
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What The Age You Got Your Period Says About You
When you were a teenager, getting your first period was everything. You were excited about the idea of becoming a woman and also completely .
Now that youre a seasoned period pro, its easy to forget how much you obsessed about your cycle back then. But it turns out, all that attention was worth something, since the age when you first got your period can actually impact your future health.
First, lets back up a little: Theres a medical term for the age when you got your first periodmenarche. Girls have started getting their first period earlier than in the past, so now its considered normal for girls to get their period between 9 and 14 years old, says Maureen Whelihan, M.D., an ob/gyn at the Center for Sexual Health & Education. However, Jessica Shepherd, M.D., an assistant professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology and director of minimally invasive gynecologic surgery at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago, says doctors arent really concerned if you get your period later, unless you get to age 16 sans periodat that point, theyll want to girls to get examined just to make sure everything is working OK in there.
A higher-than-average weight can also cause girls to get their period earlier than usual, says Shepherd. We think the increase in obesity in society may be one of the reasons why girls are getting their first periods earlier, she says.
Still, super fascinating info!
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At What Age Does Menstruation Typically Begin
People start menstruating at the average age of 12. However, you can begin menstruating as early as 8 years of age or as late as 16 years of age. People stop menstruating at menopause, which occurs at about the age of 51. At menopause, you stop producing eggs . Menopause is defined as one year without periods, and after this time you can no longer become pregnant.
Are There Any Health Risks Associated With Perimenopause
There are health risks associated with menopause, which happens right after perimenopause.
Estrogen plays an important role in preserving your bones. Osteoporosis is a condition where the insides of your bones become less dense and more fragile. This increases your risk for bone fractures. Your healthcare provider may recommend a multivitamin, calcium supplement, extra vitamin D or more weight-bearing exercises.
People in menopause are also at an increased risk for heart disease and other cardiovascular health conditions.
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How Can Your Doctor Help
If your symptoms are becoming unbearable and self-help tips and herbal remedies havent helped, it might be time to pay a visit to your doctor.
Traditionally doctors would recommend HRT for the menopause. HRT involves the introduction of medication that provides synthetic forms of the sex hormone oestrogen and progesterone. This can help with some symptoms of the menopause initially but for many women coming off of
HRT, they experience symptoms of the menopause all over again as a similar drop in hormones is apparent. HRT has also has some bad publication in recent years due to some of the associated side effects and health risks.
In some situations HRT might be necessary or recommended speak to your doctor for more information and in order to carefully discuss and consider your options.
How Can I Reduce My Risk Of Perimenopause Complications
Irregular periods are the most common symptom of perimenopause. But its important to know when to talk to your healthcare provider about your periods. Sometimes, irregular bleeding can point to an underlying problem.
You can lower your risk of complications by seeking treatment when necessary. Talk to your healthcare provider if you:
- Bleed for more than seven days in a row.
- Bleed between periods.
- Change pads or tampons every one to two hours.
- Have periods more frequently than every 21 days.
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Keeping Track Of Periods
Its good for your child to keep track of their periods with an app, calendar or diary. If your childs periods are fairly regular, an app or calendar can help your child know when their period is likely to come. This way your child can prepare for things like sleepovers, school camps or swimming carnivals.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Menopause
Estrogen is used by many parts of a womanâs body. As levels of estrogen decrease, you could have various symptoms. Many women experience mild symptoms that can be treated by lifestyle changes such as avoiding caffeine or carrying a portable fan. Some women donât require any treatment at all, but for others, symptoms can be more severe. The severity of symptoms varies greatly around the world and by race and ethnicity.
Here are the most common changes you might notice at midlife. Some may be part of aging rather than directly related to menopause.
Change in your period. This might be what you notice first. Your periods may no longer be regular. They may be shorter or last longer. You might bleed more or less than usual. These are all normal changes, but to make sure there isnât a problem, see your doctor if:
- Your periods happen very close together.
- You have heavy bleeding.
- Your periods last more than a week.
- Your periods resume after no bleeding for more than a year.
Bladder control. A loss of bladder control is called incontinence. You may have a sudden urge to urinate, or urine may leak during exercise, sneezing, or laughing. The first step in treating incontinence is to see a doctor. Bladder infections also can occur in midlife.
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When Menopause Comes Early
There are risks associated with early menopause:
- Loss of fertility at a younger age.
- An increased risk of osteoporosis and fracture in women who do not take menopausal hormone therapy .
Early menopause is particularly difficult for women who have not yet started or completed their families.
Related information
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At What Age Do Most Women Reach Menopause
The medical definition of menopause is no menstrual bleeding for a year, according to Lauren Streicher, MD, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology and the medical director of the Northwestern Center for Menopause and the Northwestern Center for Sexual Medicine in Chicago.
Most women experience menopause between age 40 and 58, and the average age at menopause is 51, according to the North American Menopause Society.
Many women are surprised when they go through menopause in their forties because they think theyre too young, but its not unusual, says Dr. Streicher.
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How Can I Keep Track Of My Menstrual Cycle
You can keep track of your menstrual cycle by marking the day you start your period on a calendar. After a few months, you can begin to see if your periods are regular or if your cycles are different each month.
You may want to track:
- Premenstrual syndrome symptoms: Did you have cramping, headaches, moodiness, forgetfulness, bloating, or breast tenderness?
- When your bleeding begins: Was it earlier or later than expected?
- How heavy the bleeding was on your heaviest days: Was the bleeding heavier or lighter than usual? How many pads or tampons did you use?
- Period symptoms: Did you have pain or bleeding on any days that caused you to miss work or school?
- How many days your period lasted: Was your period shorter or longer than the month before?
You can also download apps for your phone to track your periods. Some include features to track your PMS symptoms, energy and activity levels, and more.
Masturbation Shouldnt Affect A Childs Social Life
For adults, the answer to how much masturbation is too much is any amount that gets in the way of their daily lives. Since young children do not have jobs or responsibilities, this is more challenging to quantify. But its not impossible. If masturbation habits are getting in the way of eating or sleeping, that might be something to worry about. Beyond that, when healthy boundaries about masturbation are effectively set and children are only doing it privately, then parents just have to make sure children enjoy enough time outside of their bedroom.
Not so much the quantity as much as the context of masturbation. In other words, do they seem to prefer to be alone to social interactions with their friends? Are they becoming increasingly isolated? Pierre-Louis says.
If parents suspect their child is masturbating too much, they can try encouraging more social activities that kids enjoy to naturally curb masturbation without shaming them. Ideally, this will get them out of their rooms without making them feel bad about the masturbating theyve already done.
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Doing Too Much Exercise
The stress that intense physical activity places on your body can affect the hormones responsible for your periods. Losing too much body fat through intense exercise can also stop you ovulating.
Youll be advised to reduce your level of activity if excessive exercise has caused your periods to stop.
If youre a professional athlete, you may benefit from seeing a doctor who specialises in sports medicine. Theyll be able to give you advice about how to maintain your performance without disrupting your periods.
Can I Get Pregnant If I Am In Perimenopause
Yes, you can still become pregnant. You may be less likely to get pregnant during perimenopause, but it’s still possible. As long as you have a period, you can still get pregnant. If you want to expand your family during this time, speak with your healthcare provider about your health, fertility and possible fertility treatment options.
When your periods are irregular, you may be more likely to get pregnant unexpectedly. If you dont want to expand your family at this age, continue using birth control until your healthcare provider tells you its safe to stop. Continue to practice safe sex to prevent sexually transmitted diseases throughout your life.
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At What Age Do You Get Your First Period Top
Usually, girls get their periods between ages 12 and 14, but it can happen years before or after that. Dont worry if you get your period later or earlier than your friends get theirs that happens a lot. If you havent gotten your period by age 15 , talk to your parents or guardians, your doctor, or another adult you trust.
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Period Symptoms And Pain
When your childs period is coming, they might have a range of physical symptoms, including sore breasts, pimples and greasy hair. Your child might also have a sore tummy, feel sick or have diarrhoea.
Period pain and these associated symptoms are common. If your child gets a sore tummy, back or legs before or during their period, your child could try:
- taking pain medication
- putting a hot water bottle on their lower stomach
- walking or other light exercise
- eating smaller meals more often
- resting and relaxing, particularly with their legs elevated, or lying on one side with knees bent
- lightly massaging the lower stomach
- having warm drinks like hot milk or herbal tea.
Very painful periods are common, as are symptoms like nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. But if your child has period pain that disrupts everyday activities, they should see their GP. Hormone treatments that regulate periods or even turn them off for a while are safe and very effective.
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Emotions Can Be At An All
Sometimes, a woman knows shes about to get her period just by how she feels emotionally. Sure, bloating and cramping might also be happening, but when you have your period, your emotions may also be at an all-time high. You might experience mood swings or just extreme emotional reactions to things that you normally wouldnt give a second thought to. So, on your period, a commercial for reusable plastic bags might bring you to tears, and theres no shame in that!
In fact, you can blame your menstrual cycle. Gynecologist and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists fellow Dr. Carol Livoti, MD, told Everyday Health that estrogen levels drop like a rock and begin rising slowly before dropping again just before menstruation starts. Those changing levels of hormones can really mess with your emotions, even after your period starts. According to Medical News Today, it can take a few days after the start of your period for your emotions to regulate themselves again. So if you start to feel extra sad, mad, or happy when you have your period, dont add stress to the equation these feelings are totally normal.
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Your Pms Can Feel Even Worse
All those hormonal ups and downs that start after 40 can affect your mood and emotions before your period begins. “As the hormones fluctuate more dramatically, those women who have mood symptoms with their periods tend to see more fluctuations in those moods,” said Dr. Dunsmoor-Su. “Some women get very depressed as the hormonal fluctuations become more significant.”
If you are becoming significantly depressed, don’t hesitate to reach out to your healthcare provider “Anti-depressants are very helpful in this kind of depression, and if left untreated, it can become very severe during the menopausal transition,” Dr. Dunsmoor-Su said.
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Does Your Menstrual Cycle Change With Age
Your changes markedly throughout your life, for important reasons. With adolescence comes puberty and your first period, followed by your most : your late teens through your 20s. Heres how your cycle may change decade by decade, including in your teens, 20s, 30s and 40s, and during perimenopause and menopause. Knowing the approximate timing for these milestone changes can help you make crucial decisions related to your reproductive health.
Will Being Super Healthy Help Delay Menopause
Although maintaining good overall health is important for a variety of reasons, it wont necessarily translate to later menopause, says Streicher. I have women who tell me, I have a healthy diet, Im thin, I work out all the time, and I look young. Im sure Im not going to go through menopause early, and when I do, I wont have hot flashes and other symptoms. I wish I could say that was true, but its not, she says.
Body weight might matter, though. We do know that the extremes of weight, in someone who is very obese or someone with very low body weight, may impact the onset of menopause, but for the majority of women in the middle it doesnt seem to have a big impact, says Streicher.
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As You Wait For Your First Period You May Have Lots Of Questions About What Will Happen What Will It Feel Like What Do I Need To Do To Prepare How Do I Use A Tampon
Getting your first period is an important milestone in a young womans life. It signals the beginning of a long phase of life that you may be fertile. This means that if you have sexual contact, you might get pregnant. While you may have learned about menstruation in school, you probably have questions about what to expect. This section is designed to provide you with all the information you need as you approach getting your period for the first time.
Explore Your First Period: