Women Who Get Periods Before Teens Might Have A Troublesome Menopause: Study

Do you remember when did you get your first period? Most of the women do remember that very first day when their transformation from girl to woman happened. For some the experience was awful and some found it embarrassing but that is a part of a woman’s life, needless to say, a very important part. It starts with menstruation and ends at menopause. But your menstruation can tell a lot about your menopausal condition. In simple terms, the age at which you got your periods can predict how your menopause is going to be.

What is the relation between menstruation and menopause?

If a recent research is to be believed, women who got periods before the average age which is 12 years, are most likely to have troublesome menopause with worse symptoms. Early-onset of menstruation can worsen the symptoms of menopause. 

‘BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology’ recently published a study that establishes the relation between menstruation age and menopausal symptoms. The research team found that getting the first period before the average age can cause painful menopause.

Also Read: Women May Develop Metabolic Syndrome In The Perimenopause Phase

The Study

This research was conducted by a team from the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. The team collected data from over 18,000 middle-aged women. They analysed that women who started menstruating before 12 years suffered from chronic or vasomotor symptoms of menopause including night sweats and frequent hot flushes. Not just this, early menstruation is also highly likely to cause cardiovascular diseases and type-2 diabetes in later life.

Gita Mishra who lead the research claimed that obesity is also a major risk factor in worsening menopausal symptoms. She said: "Women who experienced early menstruation and were overweight or obese in midlife had a two times greater risk of frequent hot flushes and night sweats, compared with women who experienced their first period aged 14 years or older and had normal weight."

Also Read: Is It Possible To Delay Menopause With Your Diet?

Researchers believe that engaging in physical activities can ease the symptoms. It is a must for obese women to manage weight and prevent menopausal complications.

While we do not have any control over either menstruation or menopause, we can certainly make things smooth by taking the necessary precautions.

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