Can your monthly cycle change

The physical experience of a period — the bleeding, cramps, emotional swings, tender breasts — all comes down to the amount of hormones our body is releasing at any given time. And two hormones in particular dictate our cycle. So you can get these willy-nilly periods.

Then there can be heavy, intermittent bleeding. Katia Najd first got her period a couple of years ago when she was In the beginning she experienced a relatively irregular — though totally normal — cycle. Which makes total sense.

She says this made her feel uncomfortable, especially when she was around other religious people. Your 20s are your fertility heyday. This is the time your body is most prepared to have a baby.

For most people this means their cycles will be the most regular. Which is why many folks in their 20s continue to use birth control or get on it. BC can further regulate your cycle if it was all over the place before. However, it can take a while to find the right type of BC. But depending on the kind of contraceptive and the person, starting BC may also create all sorts of changes — some negative enough for a person to switch.

Aleta Pierce, 28, has been using a copper IUD for birth control for over five years. Before, when I was on hormonal forms of birth control NuvaRing, the pill , it was much lighter and less symptomatic.

Between the years of 20 and 29, it can be an important time to figure out adulting — including what kind of sex feels good. For many, this includes deciding how they feel about period sex.

Not exactly sexy. Do what feels good for you and your partner. The 20s are often the decade when many people become more aware that their symptoms may be a sign of a menstrual condition, like:. Your 30s are likely a mixed bag when it comes to your period.

But despite the physical discomfort brought on by her period, Formosa feels emotionally connected to her monthly cycle. I believe it ties me to the earth, to the seasons, to the circular patterns and cycles of life and death. So the cultural disgust and shaming of periods, which I have internalized as much as the next person, pisses me off.

In fact, the fertility rate for cis women in the United States over 30 rose more than any other age bracket in Pregnancy can do a number on the body. The changes are innumerable and vastly different for each person. Some hormonal methods of contraception, such as the contraceptive pill , contraceptive patch and contraceptive injection , work by preventing ovulation. Read more about the menstrual cycle , fertility , contraception and getting pregnant. Your periods can change — for example, they may last longer or get lighter.

This does not necessarily mean there's a problem, but it does need to be investigated. You can see your GP, or visit your nearest women's clinic or contraceptive clinic. Bleeding between periods , bleeding after having sex, or bleeding after the menopause needs to be checked by a doctor.

It might be caused by an infection, abnormalities in the neck of the womb the cervix or, in rare cases, it could be cancer. You could be pregnant if you miss a period and you've had sex. See your GP if you've taken a pregnancy test and the result is negative you're not pregnant and you've missed 3 consecutive periods. Read more about stopped or missed periods. Your periods will continue until you reach the menopause , which usually happens when you are in your late 40s to mids.

In the UK the average age of menopause is Your periods may start to become less frequent over a few months or years before stopping altogether. In some cases they can stop suddenly. Page last reviewed: 05 August Next review due: 05 August When do periods start?

Sanitary products Sanitary products soak up or collect the blood released during your period. The main types of sanitary products are: sanitary pads tampons menstrual cups Sanitary pads Sanitary pads are strips of padding that have a sticky side you attach to your underwear to hold them in place.

Tampons Tampons are small tubes of cotton wool that you insert into your vagina to soak up the blood before it comes out of your body. For more information, read: Can a tampon get lost inside me? What if I forget to remove my tampon? Menstrual cups Menstrual cups are an alternative to sanitary pads and tampons.

PMS premenstrual syndrome Changes in your body's hormone levels before your period can cause physical and emotional changes. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services.

The release of blood and tissue from inside the uterus is dictated by hormones. If changes occur to your period outside of these parameters without an obvious explanation, Dr. James suggests mentioning it to your doctor. You should also tell your doctor about any bleeding that occurs in between periods. These deviations could potentially indicate problems with the thyroid, or a number of other medical problems.

But most often they have a benign explanation, Dr. James says. The average age at which a girl starts her period is 12, but some girls may not get theirs until their mid-teens. James notes.