Why Are My Periods Getting Closer Together

Is It True That Periods Synchronise When Women Live Together

My Period is Getting Closer Together!

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It’s commonly believed that women who live together eventually experience the syncing of their monthly periods. But could it just be chance?

The theory behind the syncing of menstrual cycles is that women’s pheromones interact when they are in close proximity, causing them to have their period at the same time. Many females buy into it.

“I definitely think it’s true,” says Emma. “It would be too much of a coincidence otherwise.”

Emma, 24, lived with five girls at university. She says that within a few months they all had their period at the same time.

They were all buying tampons at the same time, they were moody at the same time – and their one male housemate really noticed it.

“It’s a popular belief,” says Alexandra Alvergne, associate professor in biocultural anthropology at the University of Oxford.

“As humans we always like exciting stories. We want to explain what we observe by something that is meaningful. And the idea that what we observe is due to chance or randomness is just not as interesting.”

Your Cramps Could Become More Painful

Well this sucks: Even though your periods might come less frequently or might be lighter than before, youll still experience those gut-churning crampsand they might actually be worse. Cramps can get worse in the beginning of perimenopause due to the closer and stronger surges of estrogen and progesterone, says Dr. Gupta. The good news, however, is that as you close in on menopause, your flow shows up less often and is lighterhence, less cramps, she says.

What Is Perimenopause Exactly

Perimenopause literally just means around menopause and is a normal state of life before a woman is fully in menopause. Many of the signs and symptoms most people associate with menopausesuch as hot flashes, erratic periods, and mood swingsoften begin during perimenopause, because menopause technically means that your periods have stopped altogether for a full year.

There is a wide range of time of when women begin having the symptoms of premenopause it can start as early as your mid-thirties or as late as your late forties. Changes in your perioidwhether they are further apart or closer together, longer or shorter, heavier or lighterare the first sign that you are perimenopausal.

But, as perimenopausal symptoms are caused by the same hormone fluctuations that eventually bring about full menopause, any and all menopause symptomssuch as hot flashes, sleep issues, vaginal dryness, and mood swingscan also begin to occur at this time.

During perimenopause, shifts in hormones may cause a broad spectrum of symptoms that range from the physical to the psychological, and can sometimes take women by surprise. You may initially think that issues such as trouble sleeping, weight gain, or a lack of interest in sex are a reaction to stress, career pressure, or living a full lifeand, true, they very well could be. But its quite possible, if youre around age 40 when these baddie symptoms hit, they could be age-related hormonal shifts and signs of being premenopausal.

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Your Period May Stop While You’re Breastfeeding

If you choose to breastfeed after having a baby, that can certainly affect your period. “Having a baby and breastfeeding will change your period,” doctor of Chinese Medicine and AZCIM-certified Integrative Medical Practitioner, Dr. Elizabeth Trattner, tells Bustle. “It may not even show up for a few months after breastfeeding due to the change in hormones.” And while that may be frustrating, it is totally common.

How Does Menopause Affect Bone Health

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The older a person is, the greater their risk of osteoporosis. A persons risk becomes even greater when they go through menopause. When your estrogen level decreases during menopause, you lose more bone than your body can replace. This makes your bones weaker and more likely to break. To keep your bones strong, its important to get enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet. These help your body absorb calcium. Your doctor can suggest ways to get more calcium through food, drink, and, possibly, a calcium supplement. They may also suggest that you take a vitamin D supplement to help your body process calcium. Ask your doctor what amount of daily calcium and vitamin D is right for you.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Perimenopause

Your body has been producing estrogen since puberty. Once your estrogen levels begin to decline, your body has to adjust to the changes in hormones.

The symptoms vary, but most people experience at least one of the following:

  • Sleep problems .
  • Changes in mood like irritability, depression or mood swings.

The length of time you have symptoms of perimenopause can vary between a few months to many years. The decrease in estrogen also can lead to bone thinning or changing cholesterol levels. Continue to have regular checkups with your healthcare provider to keep an eye on your health.

If You Are Having Very Difficult Symptoms Of Menopause Including Irregular Periods You Should Consider Some Changes To Your Lifestyle As Necessary

Please visit our Treatments page and Lifestyle pages for some information and inspiration on a wide variety of topics from Nutrition to Exercise, Sex and your changing home and wardrobe at midlife. Here at My Second Spring, we’re interested in chatting to you about all things midlife not just the pesky symptoms of menopause. We hope you’ll find lots of cool articles to read there and also on our blog.

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When Can You Expect Perimenopause

Chances are, if youre between the ages of 45-50, your irregular periods are a sign of perimenopause. The average age a woman starts the menopausal transition is 47.

While we cannot predict when this will occur for you, the age your mother began to experience symptoms may be a good indicator. Smokers tend to reach menopause earlier than non smokers as well.

When Does Perimenopause Start

My First Period

The average age of menopause is 51, and perimenopause symptoms typically begin about four years before your final period. Most women start to notice perimenopause symptoms in their 40s. But perimenopause can happen a little earlier or later, too. The best predictor of when your final period will be is the age at which your mother entered menopause .

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What Is The Distinction Between Abnormal Periods And Painful Periods

Painful menstrual cramping correlates with this primary symptom of abnormal periods. The reason why they are listed as two separate symptoms is that painful periods can include more than just painful menstrual cramping. On the other hand, abnormal periods are not just limited to painful periods. It is possible for an individual to experience an abnormal period and endometriosis, without the period being particularly painful as a patient can experience any of the other following symptoms listed above.

Should I Use A Pad Tampon Or Menstrual Cup

You have many choices about how to deal with period blood. You may need to experiment a bit to find which works best for you. Some girls use only one method and others switch between different methods.

  • Most girls use pads when they first get their period. Pads are made of cotton and come in lots of different sizes and shapes. They have sticky strips that attach to the underwear.
  • Many girls find tampons more convenient than pads, especially when playing sports or swimming. A tampon is a cotton plug that a girl puts into her vagina. Most tampons come with an applicator that guides the tampon into place. The tampon absorbs the blood. Don’t leave a tampon in for more than 8 hours because this can increase your risk of a serious infection called toxic shock syndrome.
  • Some girls prefer a menstrual cup. Most menstrual cups are made of silicone. To use a menstrual cup, a girl inserts it into her vagina. It holds the blood until she empties it.

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You Have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

PCOS is a condition where women overproduce amounts of male hormones, which can suppress ovulation. Women with PCOS will have a long history of irregular cycles, explains Dr. Richardson. They may also have months when they don’t have a menstrual cycle at all because of their imbalanced hormone levels.

If youre suffering from PCOS, youll likely also experience cysts on your ovaries, hirsutism , acne, obesity, and infertility, she says. PCOS is not a medical emergency, but seeing your ob-gyn as soon as possible to prescribe medication can help minimize the symptoms.

Interesting Ways Your Period Changes In Your 30s

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Even though you might be expecting to feel different as you get older, you shouldn’t notice much of aperiod change in your 30s. “For the most part, a woman’s menstrual period should be fairly regular and predictable by the time she reaches her 30s,” Dr. Shaughanassee Williams, nurse midwife and owner of HealthyHER Center for Women’s Care, tells Bustle. Which is, of course, great news.

But there are some common changes many 30-somethings experience â such as pregnancy or stopping/switching birth controls â that can affect the menstrual cycle. And the same is true for certain health conditions, which experts say may crop up around this age. So, it’s important to be mindful of your cycle. “Abrupt changes in menstrual flow, length, and timing may indicate larger concerns and should be evaluated by a healthcare provider,” Williams says. Of course, there is no need to panic, but if you do notice changes in your cycle, going to see your doctor is a good idea.

For the most part, though, your period shouldn’t start to truly change until you hit 40. “During the mid-40s and beyond, our ovaries naturally produce less estrogen and our bodies become less fertile,” Williams says. “This process is caused perimenopause, and many menstrual changes can occur during this time. Periods are often irregular and can be heavier, lighter, longer, or shorter.” She adds that other well-known symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, and libido changes.

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What Fsh Level Means Perimenopause

FSH is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland the gland located at the base of your brain. It stimulates the ovaries to release an egg during ovulation. Testing your FSH level can help confirm menopause has started. A consistently high level of FSH can indicate menopause. However, FSH tests can be misleading because during perimenopause your hormones rise and fall erratically. Certain medications, like birth control pills or hormone therapy, interfere with hormone levels and will affect the results of any hormone tests. Overactive thyroid and high prolactin can also alter those results.

Stopped Periods Are Not Always Caused By Menopause

Not all missed period are from menopause, Santoro cautions. Especially if youre younger than 45, you should check with your physician if your periods become wildly erratic or stop altogether, she says. Although it may be from something such as stress, serious diseases including a tumor in the pituitary gland can cause your periods to cease, she says.

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So Too Many Early Periods Throughout Your Life Could Potentially Be A Sign Of Decreased Fertility

Dr. Fateh specifically warns that fibroid, inflammation, and ovarian factors should be considered here, because these are the very circumstances that can negatively affect fertility in the long run.

He explains,

Fibroids may cause irregular periods, especially if they are located with in the uterine cavity. These types of fibroids bleed from their surfaces within the uterine cavity.Also, inflammation within the uterine lining — which is called endometritis — may cause irregular bleeding. Also, it prevents implantation of embryos ., some ovarian cysts produce hormones that affects the menstrual cycle.

I know that all sounds scary, but don’t let it freak you out so quickly. Dr. Knopman reassures us that early menstrual cycles aren’t always related to fertility issues. They could also be a sign of a hormonal issue, in which case, it’s best to see your OBGYN for prescribed medication and further guidance.

Generally speaking, it’s always in your best interest to speak with your own doctor when health issues arise. No two bodies are exactly the same, and you deserve the best treatment possible.

In the meantime, to stay on top of your menstrual cycle, Dr. Knopman suggests something as simple as keeping a journal to help you keep track of time each month.

She tells Elite Daily,

Map it, track it, write it down!It can be hard to remember when you start bleeding month after month.

How Your Period Might Change

My Period is Coming Every Two Weeks!

Perimenopause can make your once-regular periods suddenly irregular.

Before perimenopause, your estrogen and progesterone levels rise and fall in a consistent pattern during your menstrual cycle. When youre in perimenopause, hormone changes become more erratic. This can lead to unpredictable bleeding patterns.

During perimenopause, your periods may be:

  • Irregular. Rather than having a period once every 28 days, you might get them less or more often.
  • Closer together or further apart. The length of time between periods can vary from month to month. Some months you might get periods back to back. In other months, you might go more than four weeks without getting a period.
  • Absent. Some months you might not get a period at all. You might think youre in menopause, but its not official until youve been period-free for 12 months.
  • Heavy. You may bleed a lot, soaking through your pads.
  • Light. Your bleeding might be so light that you barely need to use a panty liner. Sometimes the spotting is so faint that it doesnt even look like a period.
  • Short or long. The duration of your periods can change, too. You might bleed for just a day or two or for more than a week at a time.

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What’s The First Sign Of Perimenopause

The first perimenopause sign is typically a disruption of your menstrual cycle. For many women, your period starts earlier or later than normal. For example, if your menstrual cycle has always been 28 days, during perimenopause, your period could come as early as 21 or as late as 35 days. Some women start skipping months entirely and then experience heavier-than-normal periods when they do have them.

You Have Mood Changes

Because your hormone levels are changing, you may experience mood swings or emotional changes. You may become irritable or anxious more easily than before. Depression is not an uncommon side effect of menopause and perimenopause.

Some women also find that their sex drives decrease during perimenopause and menopause. This can be due to both hormonal fluctuations and the strain of coping with other symptoms. Interest in sex can bounce back after symptoms have stopped.

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