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Female cycle
& fertility

Female cycle 
& fertility

What affects your menstrual cycle -  Age

Our menstrual cycles change over time, with the biggest changes happening at the beginning (starting periods and puberty) and the end (perimenopause and menopause). Here we’ll look at how time affects your cycle, your hormones and your wellbeing.

The early years: from puberty to adulthood

Every girl starts her period at a different time, but the average age is around 12. This can vary a lot – some girls start around age 8, others not until their later teens. Periods tend to come along after other signs of puberty (like breasts developing and underarm/pubic hair appearing) have begun to show.

At first, while the adolescent female body gears up for regular periods, cycles can be very changeable. Some girls may have regular, predictable, 28 - day cycles right from the start, but many more find that periods come at odd intervals, sometimes spaced far apart, sometimes close together.

If you are worried about your menstrual cycle it can help to talk to a doctor about it. It can also help to know what’s “normal” and what isn’t:

What’s normal?
What’s worth seeing a doctor about?
Starting periods between the ages of 8 and 15
  • Signs of puberty before the age of 8
  • No signs of period by age 15
Irregular periods for the first couple of years
  • Regular periods that become irregular
  • Periods that are still very irregular after a year or two
A cycle that lasts between 20 and 45 days
Cycles that are regularly less than 20 or more than 45 days
Periods that are light, periods that are heavy, and everything in between
Extremely heavy flow –
  • Bleeding through to sheets at night
  • Bleeding through clothing
  • Needing to change pad/tampon every hour
Cramps, discomfort or tenderness
Severe pain, e.g. pain that’s so bad it interferes with school or hobbies

The middle years: adulthood

By your late teens, your cycle will probably be more regular (the same length each time). This is the time when you are most likely to conceive, so unless you’re ready for a baby you’ll need to think about reliable contraception.

At this time of life, tracking your menstrual cycle can be really beneficial. It allows you to spot patterns in how you feel physically, mentally and emotionally and gives you insight into what’s normal for you.

If anything related to your menstrual cycle, periods and fertility is worrying you, it can help to see a doctor. Sharing your cycle tracking with your healthcare professional allows them to work out whether everything is within the bounds of “normal” or whether they need to look into things further.

What’s normal?
What’s worth seeing a doctor about?

A cycle that’s shorter than 28 days

A cycle that’s shorter than 21 days
A cycle that’s longer than 28 days
A cycle that’s longer than 45 days
Slight changes in cycle length from month to month
Cycles that change by more than a couple of days month to month
Periods that are light, periods that are heavy, and everything in between
Extremely heavy flow –
  • Bleeding through to sheets at night
  • Bleeding through clothing
  • Needing to change pad/tampon every hour
Bright red, deep red or brown bleeding at different stages of a period
Bleeding between periods
A period coming late at times of great physical or mental stress
Periods that stop suddenly and you have had a negative pregnancy test result
Passing clots of blood
Passing large clots (bigger than a £2 coin) or regularly passing lots of clots
Cramps, discomfort or tenderness
Pain so severe it interferes with life
Temporarily having a low libido at certain times of the month
Painful sex at any time – this is never normal and should be investigated

The later years: up to and after menopause

After the age of 35, fertility begins to decline but your menstrual cycle will probably carry on much as before. As you approach menopause, you may start to notice changes to your cycle and might experience symptoms of perimenopause which is the time leading up to your last period.

Perimenopause can start around your early 40s and lasts until your periods stop – the average age for menopause is around 45 - 55 but for some women it can happen earlier.

At this time your hormone levels start to change, your ovaries release fewer eggs and your cycles can become less regular. It is still possible to get pregnant in perimenopause but the chances are low: an average 49 year old woman has around a 5% chance of falling pregnant each month. Periods can change, becoming heavier or lighter and more irregular. Eventually periods will stop completely.

When you have not had a period for 12 months, you are said to be postmenopausal. Your ovaries do not release eggs and you cannot become pregnant naturally.

What’s normal?
What’s worth seeing a doctor about?
Cycles becoming shorter, longer or more irregular
Your cycle changing and you are under 40
Periods that are lighter or heavier than before
Periods that become so heavy they interfere with life e.g. soaking through to bedding or clothing
Symptoms like hot flushes, loss of libido, ‘brain fog’, mood changes, anxiety, night sweats or joint aches
Symptoms that are so bad they are affecting your sleep, mental health, physical health, work or relationships

Periods gradually petering out
Periods stopping suddenly

Periods stopping suddenly along with any other new symptoms that bother you
A period arriving suddenly when you thought they had stopped
A period arriving suddenly when you haven’t had one for 12 months or more
Finding you prefer to use a lubricant to make sex more comfortable
Painful sex – your vagina may be dryer and more delicate after menopause, but there are treatments available. Sex should not be uncomfortable
Did you know?

Some women can go through menopause early, due to certain medical procedures such as cancer treatment or hysterectomy.

This is different to the usual age-related menopause and you should receive proper counselling and advice from your doctor.

Just like at any other time of life, if your menstrual cycle, periods or hormones are causing you problems it’s better to talk to a doctor than to suffer in silence. Sometimes there are treatments your doctor can offer such as vaginal lubricants, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or talking therapy – sometimes it can help to just be reassured that everything is normal and nothing to worry about.

What affects your menstrual cycle - Age

Our menstrual cycles change over time, with the biggest changes happening at the beginning (starting periods and puberty) and the end (perimenopause and menopause). Here we’ll look at how time affects your cycle, your hormones and your wellbeing.

The early years: from puberty to adulthood

Every girl starts her period at a different time, but the average age is around 12. This can vary a lot – some girls start around age 8, others not until their later teens. Periods tend to come along after other signs of puberty (like breasts developing and underarm/pubic hair appearing) have begun to show.
At first, while the adolescent female body gears up for regular periods, cycles can be very changeable. Some girls may have regular, predictable, 28 - day cycles right from the start, but many more find that periods come at odd intervals, sometimes spaced far apart, sometimes close together.
If you are worried about your menstrual cycle it can help to talk to a doctor about it. It can also help to know what’s “normal” and what isn’t:
What’s normal?
What’s worth seeing a doctor about?
Starting periods between the ages of 8 and 15
Signs of puberty before the age of 8
No signs of period by age 15
Irregular periods for the first couple of years
  • Regular periods that become irregular
  • Periods that are still very irregular after a year or two
A cycle that lasts between 20 and 45 days
Cycles that are regularly less than 20 or more than 45 days
Periods that are light, periods that are heavy, and everything in between
Extremely heavy flow –
  • Bleeding through to sheets at night
  • Bleeding through clothing
  • Needing to change pad/tampon every hour
Cramps, discomfort or tenderness
Severe pain, e.g. pain that’s so bad it interferes with school or hobbies

The middle years: adulthood

By your late teens, your cycle will probably be more regular (the same length each time). This is the time when you are most likely to conceive, so unless you’re ready for a baby you’ll need to think about reliable contraception.
At this time of life, tracking your menstrual cycle can be really beneficial. It allows you to spot patterns in how you feel physically, mentally and emotionally and gives you insight into what’s normal for you.
If anything related to your menstrual cycle, periods and fertility is worrying you, it can help to see a doctor. Sharing your cycle tracking with your healthcare professional allows them to work out whether everything is within the bounds of “normal” or whether they need to look into things further.
What’s normal?
What’s worth seeing a doctor about?
A cycle that’s shorter than 28 days
A cycle that’s shorter than 21 days
A cycle that’s longer than 28 days
A cycle that’s longer than 45 days
Slight changes in cycle length from month to month
Cycles that change by more than a couple of days month to month
Periods that are light, periods that are heavy, and everything in between
Extremely heavy flow –
  • Bleeding through to sheets at night
  • Bleeding through clothing
  • Needing to change pad/tampon every hour
Bright red, deep red or brown bleeding at different stages of a period
Bleeding between periods
A period coming late at times of great physical or mental stress
Periods that stop suddenly and you have had a negative pregnancy test result
Passing clots of blood
Passing large clots (bigger than a £2 coin) or regularly passing lots of clots
Cramps, discomfort or tenderness
Pain so severe it interferes with life
Temporarily having a low libido at certain times of the month
Painful sex at any time – this is never normal and should be investigated

The later years: up to and after menopause

After the age of 35, fertility begins to decline but your menstrual cycle will probably carry on much as before. As you approach menopause, you may start to notice changes to your cycle and might experience symptoms of perimenopause which is the time leading up to your last period.
Perimenopause can start around your early 40s and lasts until your periods stop – the average age for menopause is around 45 - 55 but for some women it can happen earlier.
At this time your hormone levels start to change, your ovaries release fewer eggs and your cycles can become less regular. It is still possible to get pregnant in perimenopause but the chances are low: an average 49 year old woman has around a 5% chance of falling pregnant each month. Periods can change, becoming heavier or lighter and more irregular. Eventually periods will stop completely.
When you have not had a period for 12 months, you are said to be postmenopausal. Your ovaries do not release eggs and you cannot become pregnant naturally.
What’s normal?
What’s worth seeing a doctor about?
Cycles becoming shorter, longer or more irregular
Your cycle changing and you are under 40
Periods that are lighter or heavier than before
Periods that become so heavy they interfere with life e.g. soaking through to bedding or clothing
Symptoms like hot flushes, loss of libido, ‘brain fog’, mood changes, anxiety, night sweats or joint aches
Symptoms that are so bad they are affecting your sleep, mental health, physical health, work or relationships
Periods gradually petering out
Periods stopping suddenly
Periods stopping suddenly along with any other new symptoms that bother you
A period arriving suddenly when you thought they had stopped
A period arriving suddenly when you haven’t had one for 12 months or more
Finding you prefer to use a lubricant to make sex more comfortable
Painful sex – your vagina may be dryer and more delicate after menopause, but there are treatments available. Sex should not be uncomfortable
Did you know?
Some women can go through menopause early, due to certain medical procedures such as cancer treatment or hysterectomy.
This is different to the usual age-related menopause and you should receive proper counselling and advice from your doctor.
Just like at any other time of life, if your menstrual cycle, periods or hormones are causing you problems it’s better to talk to a doctor than to suffer in silence. Sometimes there are treatments your doctor can offer such as vaginal lubricants, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or talking therapy – sometimes it can help to just be reassured that everything is normal and nothing to worry about.

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