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Here are 6 things that happen to your menstrual cycle when you hit your 30s

Your periods might change when you hit your 30s, thanks to the various changes your body goes through.
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Sometimes your period pain is so severe that it needs you to sit back and relax. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Nikita Bhardwaj Updated: 4 May 2021, 15:31 pm IST
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Your age doesn’t just affect how you look and think but it also has quite an impact on your menstruation cycle. Our period changes as early as when we take our first few steps into the thirties.

It is believed that some might be blessed with regular and more predictable periods by the time they hit the thirties but some might notice things changing quite quickly. You see, our lifestyle, mental health, and reproductive well-being decide a lot of things about our menstrual cycle.

Here are 6 of the most common changes that can affect your menstrual cycle when you enter the third decade of life:
1. Your period might get heavier

There can be many reasons that can lead to heavier periods like fluctuation in hormones, certain medical conditions, and even eliminating the use of birth control pills. Hence, you need to ascertain the cause behind this shift in your menstrual flow. For this, visiting a doctor would be the best option.

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2. You might experience increased pain and discomfort

If the pain you experience during menstruation has increased recently, it could point to endometriosis. It is a disorder associated with the uterus lining which causes a lot of pain. The condition is most common amongst women in their late twenties and thirties, according to Dr Gandhali Deorukhkar Pillai, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Wockhardt Hospital, Mumbai. It could, however, be caused by other underlying medical conditions such as uterine fibroids as well.

3. You miss them once in a while

This usually happens when you use certain birth control measures which can lead to missed periods. Taking birth control pills can lead to lighter, or missed periods.

4. Your mood swings can hit an all-time high

In our thirties, we experience more stress as compared to our younger years. What’s more, an unhealthy lifestyle that lacks physical activity and a nutritional diet is also something that affects our hormones. In fact, all this can compound to an aggravation in the symptoms of those who suffer from PMS.

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“Another reason why your PMS symptoms start getting worse is that the estrogen levels in your body also drop,” said Dr Pillai.

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5. You might face changes due to pregnancy

“Another major change that may happen during this time is related to childbirth. Many women have babies in their thirties. Pregnancy can completely alter a woman’s period cycle. Periods are also closely related to breastfeeding. Usually, breastfeeding mothers may not get their period till the time they stop or reduce nursing frequency. What’s more, a woman’s PMS symptoms can also alter after childbirth. Many women report that their cramps don’t feel as horrible as before. This happens because the cervical opening increases in size after childbirth and hence, the uterine contractions during periods may get milder,” explained Dr Pillai.

6. Your menstrual cycle length might fluctuate

For some women, it becomes longer and for some, it shortens up. It can also fluctuate due to hormonal changes in your body which can also lead to PCOS.

“If your cycle is shortening up, there’s nothing to worry about because hormones drop with age. In case your period duration has increased, then you must consult your doctor,” suggested Dr Pillai.

Your menstrual cycle is a window to your health status and that’s exactly why you need to be sensitive to any changes you experience as you get older.

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About the Author

Six-pack abs are all that Nikita needs, along with her daily dose of green tea. At Health Shots, she produces videos, podcasts, stories, and other kick-ass content. ...Read More

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