How your period changes with age

At any age, it is important for a girl, girl, woman to understand what processes in her body are normal and correspond to age-related changes, and when to see a doctor. To do this, it is worth knowing how menstruation changes over time.

Up to 20 years

On average, menstruation begins at 12 years of age, but their onset is considered to be the norm from 10 to 15 years. It depends on many factors - body weight, nutritional value, physical activity, etc.

In the first couple of years, menstruation can be irregular, with varying abundance - which is associated with the peculiarities of ovulation or its absence.

Girls may experience pain, cramps, mood swings caused by changes in hormonal levels. Months become especially unpredictable if ovulation does not occur. If your periods are very heavy, exhausting, you need to see a doctor.

20-30 years old

Medically speaking, this is the ideal age for conception and childbirth. Menstruation during this period is usually regular, stable - otherwise, you need to see a doctor for help (not counting preventive examinations at least once a year).

Of course, the ability to conceive and bear a child does not mean that it must be done and must be done at that age. Many people from 20 to 30 years old regularly take hormonal contraceptives - they can make periods shorter, less abundant. But the intrauterine device can affect menstruation in the opposite way.

Why the menstrual cycle can be disrupted at this age:

• polycystic ovary syndrome
• endometriosis
• fibroma of the uterus
• hormone problems

For prolonged and very painful periods, unusual cycle failure, it is worth consulting your doctor.

30-40 years old

For most women in this age period, menstruation proceeds in the same way as before the age of 30. However, sometimes they can become more painful, the manifestations of PMS (emotional instability, breast tenderness, etc.) may increase.

If in the period from 30 to 40 years old you gave birth to a child, then after 9-10 months your cycle will begin to recover. The first few months of your period will be especially heavy.

Closer to the age of 40, it is still too early to talk about menopause. But some women may start perimenopause - this is 8-10 years before menopause. During this time, the body produces less estrogen and progesterone. As a result, your periods can become even more abundant.

But for pain and any new concerns, you should see a doctor.

40-50 years old

Alas, but menopause is getting closer - and because of it the cycle gets lost, menstruation may appear "unplanned". Although, in general, an irregular cycle does not mean the onset of menopause.

It is worth paying attention to its other symptoms:

• less lubricant is produced
• attend hot flashes, chills, night sweats
• sleep problems appear
• weight is growing
• mood changes dramatically
• hair becomes thinner and skin becomes dry
• the breast loses its elasticity.

If necessary, the gynecologist can prescribe medications that will alleviate the condition. It is important to get plenty of rest, eat right, and minimize bad habits. You can talk about the onset of menopause when a year has passed after the last menstruation - this is usually after 50 years.

From 50 years old

Closer to the age of 50, ovulation stops - however, you should not think that it is impossible to get pregnant at this time, there is always a chance, therefore it is important to remember about contraception.

After the cessation of menstruation, hormonal fluctuations and unstable mood may appear. Ovarian activity in most cases ceases after 60 years.

Urinary incontinence may occur, especially in stressful situations.

You will also be interested to read:

• How to distinguish implantation bleeding from menstruation
• what painkillers should not be drunk during menstruation
• Periods in early pregnancy - how is this possible