How menstruation changes in your 20s, 30s and 40s –

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The human body is always changing throughout its life, which means that we have to adapt during each period. And with menstruation it couldn’t be any different. How does menstruation change in your 20s, 30s, and 40s?

Menstruation at 20

At that time, the flow begins to become more stable. “Young women ovulate more frequently and, therefore, have less irregular cycles”, explains Adriana Feital de Oliveira Gameiro, a gynecologist from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. But this consistency ends up bringing along some other factors, such as premenstrual tension, cramps and breast tenderness. If you decide to use a contraceptive method, such as the pill, you will likely notice an improvement in your symptoms.

Menstruation at 30

Menstruation becomes very predictable in this age group. “Despite that, as it is considered by the organism as an inflammatory reaction, its regularity increases the probability of the woman feeling cramps”, says Adriana. You also need to be aware of the problems that may arise during your 30s, such as endometriosis or fibroids. The first is when the mucosa that lines the inner wall of the uterus, called the endometrium, ends up growing in other regions of the body, such as the ovaries, causing intense and persistent pain in the region. The second concerns benign tumors that alter the flow intensity.

Menstruation at 40

The 40’s represent a woman’s last fertile phase. Here, the body begins to prepare for the menopause. This means that the levels of some hormones, such as progesterone and estrogen, drop, making ovulation more irregular and influencing the characteristics of the cycle. “With this, the flow can become more intense, shorter, longer or even absent”, explains Adriana. It may also be that PMS symptoms last for more days.