That time of month.

[D_Kay_Sarah_Sarah]

Ladies i was just wondering how has your menstrual cycle changed with age?

I used to have no pain, not PMS and no hormonal/emotional troubles but as im getting older in noticing i am starting to get all of the above. Ive still got 2o-30 years of this and im starting to worry will it keep escalating with age or will it plateau

 

[ManlyBanisters]

Sorry Lee, I can't remember if you have kids or not. Mine changed after that.

As a teenager I had almost no problems, no pain, never heavy, over quickly (3 days) - 30 or 31 day cycles - fucking clockwork. Into my 20s I started getting 1 really bad one in every 12 or so (so not really more than one a year) and they also switched between 27 and 31 day cycles fairly randomly. By bad one I mean abdominal pain, back pain, nausea, headaches, fatigue. Then there was the interruption of pregnancy - since then I've gone to 26 - 29 day cycles, much heavier (first 3 days), lasting longer (up to a week), discomfort when heavy but no real pain, occassional nausea but the back pain and headaches seem to have gone.

So, in my limited experience, a woman's cycle does change over time and not always for the worse.

Edit: PMS / bad moods / weepiness type stuff - consistant throughout. I was on and off the pill in my mid to late teens and early twenties - never noticed that make much difference, including to timing.

 

[Belly_Dancer]

I have been on the pill since I was sixteen, which changed my periods dramatically. Before that, they were extremely heavy, lasted about 10 days, and were about 35 days apart. However, I didn't have much cramping. As to mood swings, it's hard to say -- as a teenager, I pretty much was a mood swing, so I'm not sure how much of it was PMS.

Over the years I've been on the pill, my periods have gotten lighter and less painful. Occasionally, I don't menstruate at all. When I was running a lot and had very low body fat, I didn't menstruate for about six months.

As to PMS, that has definitely gotten worse as I've aged. It's hard to say how much worse it will get, and god help us all when I go through menopause! I had a Dr. prescribe me 10mg of Prozac a day for the 5 days leading up to my period, and it did help with the PMS, but it made me unable to orgasm, which sucked big time!

I get very horny as my period approaches, and being sexually frustrated (unable to come) made it not worth it to take the Prozac. So now, I pretty much tough it out -- try to get plenty of rest, and warn my Master about what time of the month it is, so he's prepared for what may seem to be unusual moodiness or irritability.

Lee, if you don't take the pill now, and you're not at extra risk for breast cancer, you may want to consider going on it. It will probably reduce your cramps. You could also ask your Dr. about the temporary Prozac -- it doesn't have the same sexual side effects for everyone, and if the moodiness is seriously interfering with your life, it may be worth it.

(NOTE: Prozac was briefly marketed as "Sarafem" for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, or PMDD...but I don't think I have that disorder; I just get really bad PMS.)

 

[IntoxicatingToxin]

When I was a teenager, my periods lasted around 5 days, and I had some cramping, but that was about it. After I had my son, I was on depo for 4 years. THAT changed my periods a LOT. I have more cramping now than I did before depo, and now my breasts hurt when I have my period, which had never happened before. (When I got my first period after depo, I honestly wondered if I was pregnant!) But, being only 25, I can't say that they have changed due to age, per se.

 

[D_Ed69s girl]

I can't really say much I am only 35 but this is what it has been for me.

As a teenager I didn't get cramps but mood hell yes huge mood swing. But my period where anywhere from 30 to 60 days appart. After the birth my my first child I made the mistake of getting noraplant the stuff they put in your arm and it is suppose to last for five years. WELL it made me an even moodier person my periods were still 30 to 60 days appart and when I had the damn stuff taken out after 2 and half years. I could get pregnant for almost four years. After the birth of my second child my period when totally off track, There was one year that I didn't but two period and they hurt like hell, major cramps, heavy bleeding for three days the light for four and PMS, sore breast you name I get. And no I was never pregnant during those long stretches.That past two years has settle back to 30 to 60 days appart. I still get severely moody, nasty cramps for 2 days and bleed for 5. I refuse to go back to any form of birth control because it causes more harm than good. I got my tubes tied after my second child so my hubby and I don't have to deal with birth control.

 

[honeydew]

OMG!!! I went nuts as I aged. I would get to the point I wanted to kill someone. I would have heavy bleeding and be so tired it was unbelievable. My Dr prescribed Celexa which is a God send. It has balanced out my moods and I am much more relaxed. I have found it also does not effect my sex life negatively. I think I am hornier since taking it. I also had an IUD (w/ the hormone progesterone in it) implanted so I only spot ever so slightly when I am on my period. This stays in for 5 yrs then will be replaced.

 

[Linda Sue]

My cycle has actually gotten easier as I have gotten older......cramps and headaches went away. I am still wildly, psychotically horny before and during my period.

 

[D_Kay_Sarah_Sarah]

No i don't have any children and have always relied on condoms for safe sex so haven't felt the need for the pill.

As i said ive never had a problem e before and always had a perfect 28/3 day cycle, even to the point of routine (i day quiet, 1 day cleaning, start) No im getting so tired, sore and cranky cleaning is the last thing i want.I dont think i need to do anything about it yet as even though it is painful it is still bearable an i just know for a few days avoid people.

My main query was is there an age i should expect it to even out, but i guess not. At least i know now that change is normal

Thank you ladies




And Danny let me say publicly sorry for the PM's. Hopefully this thread has explained that outburst :kiss: