Your Period Changes and Ages with You

June 17, 2021

Your Period Changes and Ages with
You
    Written by Michelle Fletcher, M.D.,a gynecologist with the University of Miami
                                                              Health System

When you got your first period, hopefully, someone you trust
helped you make sense of pads, tampons, cramps, and mood
swings.
But they probably didn’t explain how your menstrual cycle will change throughout
your life. As you age, the length of your cycle, number of days of bleeding and
spotting, amount of bleeding, and PMS symptoms can change as hormones flow in
different ways. As women, our menstrual cycle is one of our health vital signs. It can
be a signal that everything is going well or a warning when something may be off in
our bodies.

When menstruation begins
When a pre-teen or teenager starts menstruating, this is the right time to start

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June 17, 2021

seeing a gynecologist. At this age, speaking with or getting examined by a doctor
can be uncomfortable. But, understanding what a gynecologist can do for you (or
your child) and breaking that barrier can improve your health and wellbeing. These
are great visits for young patients and their parents/caregivers to attend together. I
like to open the floor for any questions a young patient has about her changing body.
This encourages the conversation and allows her to feel comfortable talking about
her body with her parent or caregiver and a physician. She can gain a better
understanding of what to expect and what to speak up about.

When our cycles are first starting, it can be expected for periods to be irregular or
without a clear pattern. Cycles can be anywhere from 21 to 45 days, and it may take
several years for it to find a regular pattern (four to five years in some girls). During
this time, bleeding for up to seven days is also normal.

In your 20s
As we get into our 20s, we can expect a little more stability with our cycles. You
should be seeing your period every 28 to 35 days, and bleeding can decrease
slightly, with most women having four to six days of bleeding. Mild PMS symptoms
are also typical and may increase or be more noticeable during this time. Most
women experience mild emotional or physical symptoms leading up to their period
(such as bloating, breast tenderness/pain, headaches, feeling tired, food cravings,
and others). These symptoms should be mild and not disruptive of your daily life. If
your symptoms affect your social or economic life, talk to your gynecologist about
your ways to alleviate them.

In your 30s
In your 30s, your menstrual cycle should remain stable and predictable. The cycle
length should be consistent, as should the amount of bleeding. During these years of

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our life, we are more likely to start having children. Pregnancy and childbirth can
affect your period in many ways, and it’s common for menstrual flow to change after
having a baby. Also, during these years, we are more likely to use some form of birth
control. The various therapies we use for birth control can affect and change our
periods in many ways. To gain a clear understanding of what to expect, discuss
these side effects with your gynecologist before starting any method of birth control.

In your 40s
Throughout your 40s, you may start to experience more irregularities in your cycle
and the length of bleeding. Changes in women’s estrogen levels occur during this
time. This stage before menopause is called “perimenopause” and can last for a few
months or up to 10 years. During this time, you can have irregular periods, changes
in your mood, issues with sleep, hot flushes, and night sweats. If you feel these
symptoms are affecting your daily life, discuss them with your gynecologist.

Menopause
After age 40, it can be normal to enter menopause at any time, although the average
age for most women in the U.S. is around 51. Once you have seen no bleeding for
over one year, you have officially entered menopause. Once this occurs, it is
imperative to notify your doctor if you ever see bleeding again, as that is not normal.
Symptoms, including night sweats, irritability, hot flushes, and vaginal dryness, may
persist once you have entered menopause. Thankfully, many treatments can help
this transition. So, speak with your doctor if you’re seeking relief.

How your lifestyle affects your period
Our bodies and menstrual cycles are quite sensitive to everything we do—including
the food we eat, how hard we exercise, and physical and emotional stress. It’s
important to try to live a healthy and balanced lifestyle to keep things flowing

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June 17, 2021

normally.

If you see significant changes in your weight (gain or loss), this can cause your
hormone levels to fluctuate and affect your ovulation and period. Similarly, if you
exercise very frequently and do not consume enough calories to match what you’re
burning, this can also affect your cycle.

When to see a gynecologist
If you’re experiencing period-related concerns, such as intense menstrual cramping,
irregular periods, missed periods without pregnancy, severe mood swings or
depression tied to your cycle, or very heavy periods—speak with your gynecologist.
That is what we’re here for!

We have many interventions that can help with everything from making cycles more
regular and decreasing bleeding to helping with mood symptoms. There is no reason
to be suffering every month.

You should see your doctor if you are experiencing cycles that are not 28 to 35 days,
bleeding for more than seven days, bleeding that you feel is so heavy it is affecting
your daily life or no bleeding at all. Sometimes, we put off our health to care for our
children and family members. But, we should always take a moment to check in with
ourselves to ensure we’re doing okay. Your periods are a part of your life, but they
should not disrupt your life and keep you from doing everything you want to do.

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June 17, 2021

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