On August 8th, I officially turned 53 and a HALF. And yes, I revert to child-like ways of describing my age, because it’s how I think about it when I realize I’m still menstruating. I’m the oldest person I personally know still having regular periods. Gold star?
I started menstruating (“menarche,” to be technical) in October when I was 12, so soon, I will have been having periods for 41 years. I’m old enough that the first period products I used were PADS WITH BELTS.
(For more history of menstruation stuff, there is the Museum of Menstruation; the design of the site is appalling — late 1990s-live-journal-era — but if you poke around, there are some really fascinating bits of info — but I digress).
I had one time last year where my cycle was 42 days, but other than that, I’ve been creepily regular since 1977. And since I’ve had no interruptions for pregnancy, breastfeeding, hormonal suppression or illness, that means that soon I will have my 533rd or so period. (A gyne friend reminds me that with a 28 day cycle, we have an average of 13 periods per year). That is a LOT of bleeding and cramps and tampons and hormone swings and whatnot.
I decided a few years ago that I wasn’t going to take advantage of any new menstrual opportunities — I’m a tampon person, not a diva cup or period panties person — those seem like investments in a future for someone much younger. And I’m not going to get an IUD with hormones that gradually suppress periods — I want to know when I actually stop. I’m in this strange limbo where I menstruate but feel like the young ‘uns have a whole period culture that I’m never going to be part of.
But generally, I’m kind of neutral on my endless menstruating. The science suggests that overall, it’s not a bad thing to have a late menopause (the medical definition of “menopause” is used when you have officially stopped having periods for a full year, and “late” is defined variably as after 52 – 55). There IS an increased risk of reproductive cancers because of the extra estrogen — breast, ovarian and endometrial (and I had to have an endometrial biopsy a month ago because I had spotting and “my age makes me automatically suspicious”). But on balance, later age at menopause is associated with better health, longer life and less cardiovascular disease. That “better health” includes lower risk for heart disease and stroke, stronger bones, and a 13% higher chance of living to be 90. I’ll take that.
But. This “still bleeding after all these years” thing raise new questions when I think about my whole fit-at-midlife thing. Like most other people-who-menstruate, I think I’ve learned to sort of pretend that my cycle is something that doesn’t “really” affect what I do in fitness-land. When I used to run a lot, I did read once that we are at our most hormonally vibrant or some such the week after our periods, and that it might be a good time to schedule a race, but I can only vaguely recall why that might be, and I certainly never took that into consideration in making plans. (Hello, Boston marathon people? Could you please change the date? I’ll have my period that week).
I’ve certainly always operated on the principle that your period isn’t supposed to slow you down. My late 70s/early 80s adolescence was full of those girls-in-white-pants-dancing-around ads for tampons and pads, and even before that, there was cultural pressure not to let the world define us as weaker because of our uteruses. When I was pubescent, there were a lot of these already-old brochures around the house, because my mother had taught phys ed and health in the 60s. I pored over these booklets, produced by sanitary napkin companies. They all assured me it was okay to dance or do sports — not too “strenuous”, but all the normal things.
There might be weepiness or smelliness, but these could be easily dealt with with enough sleep, the right attitude and the right products.
(That girl weeping at her dressing table has haunted me my whole life. Maybe I AM being a drama queen! I never did learn how to Smile, sister, smile! Maybe when I learn that, I’ll stop menstruating?)
So it was official, periods weren’t going to slow me down — and mostly, they didn’t, despite some pretty hellish PMS for parts of my life. (I might have been fighting with my spouse, but I was running! I do remember my ex saying to me once, when I came back from a sticky summer evening run all hormonally cranky — “don’t just stand there with bugs on your neck yelling at me!”)
But over the past several years, I feel like I could use some of these little brochures telling me what to expect in perimenopause, the period of time between which your hormones start to change and when you stop menstruating. I’ve had night sweats and disrupted sleep for at least seven years, which are well known experiences of perimenopause. 
But I’ve also noticed that I have almost overwhelming fatigue a few days before my period, sometimes just for a day, sometimes for several. Like so much fatigue that I think I’m getting the flu and I take to my bed for a few hours. (See, I am a weeping drama queen!)
This fatigue is a factor in my overall wellbeing, but it’s not something that is widely acknowledged or addressed. My family physician has never once asked me about my whole peri-meno experience, simply ticking off whether or not I’m still having periods. And sometimes, other women can be reluctant to talk about feeling less … strong or fit or energetic or something — because of our periods. I had a (female) ex who got irritated when I mentioned it, like it was a sign of wimpy weakness. And I’ve had moms of teens say that they want to encourage their daughters to stay active and not be tagged with misogynist assumptions about weakness, so they don’t even really want to acknowledge that you might just want to lie on the couch. I get that — and, my own personal experience is that I get super tired and don’t WANT to do anything in the days before my period anymore.
So… mostly, I don’t. I think I’m like a Menstruator Emeritus now — with more than 530 periods under my belt, I think I’ve earned the right to do periods the way I want to. And that means taking to my bed for a big nap if I feel like it, and not obfuscating why. It means talking about the realities of night sweats and sleep disruption and slower metabolism. And if I want to go for a 100km bike ride, I can do that too. The only thing I won’t do is learn how to change a menstrual cup in a public washroom.
Fieldpoppy is Cate Creede, who lives and works in Toronto and blogs here twice a month regularly and other times when she has something to say. Here she is on her 53rd birthday.
I can so relate! I’m 58 and still buying products monthly…..with a seniors discount no less! The real kicker for me is that in the last 6 years I’ve raced a few half ironman and a full ironman and each time my period started on race day. Can’t wait to do one of these events without this variable!
thanks for your comment, Shannon — you rock!
Great to see we have ladies out there in the same boat! I am 51 with regular periods too. I do also have anemia due to very heavy bleeding/flooding on 2nd/3rd day. Right now have been through a variety of tests and reviewing Naproxen as a possible option for help. I don’t want to be messing with hormones which are other options. Thanks for the post Cate too 😊🌺
I too at 53 1/2 have horrible periods with so much pain and discomfort! Wondering when this nightmare will end! I was meeting with a new client today when I felt a gush! I am too old for this! Tired!
Loved this Cate. Three years ago I was with you, the woman menopause forgot,
https://fitisafeministissue.com/2015/08/10/im-late-to-the-menopause-party/ but now I’m on the other side. I’ve got to say, I’m happy not to be bleeding every month. I feel like I left a friend behind! But you’re right that we don’t talk enough about the symptoms of menopause and perimenopause or menstruation for that matter.
My GF was around 55 it’s normal to be late fifties even. 💓
This is so timely for me. I begin having symptoms that were weird last year. I was waking up a lot at night, having brain fog, but it wasn’t until I was dripping sweat in a room I could acknowledge logically was cold, that it dawned on me it could be perimenopause. Right now as we speak , I sit here with the longest cycle I’ve ever experienced. For the first time in my life (other than pregnancy) my period didn’t arrive in another 26-28 days. The problem is, I feel too young. I’m 41. I guess I didn’t expect this till a bit later. I’m shocked at my feelings, I mean, I’ve never loved my period, but now that it’s slipping away….well, it’s complicated, to quote Facebook. I mean, my mom had a baby at 40! And here I am leaving that behind, it’s weird.
Thanks for sharing… and I empathize. There’s a lot connected to peri menopause we don’t talk about. Hugs
Hi there I discovered your wonderful blog yesterday .I agree with everything you said I have just had my 53 birthday and still having periods. They are at times really heavy and long .Nobody prepared me for this.My Mum and all the ladies I know have had hysterectomies as was the fashion in the late 70s early 80s.
How are things now?
Best Wishes
Ruth Coote England
I will be 38 in a couple of months and already have some of this. Many of the women in my family have had early menopause…I was hoping to be the exception.
You’re lucky! I am 53 1/2 with Grandchildren still missing out due to heavy periods
Thanks for posting this, Cate. I had my last period at 54 and 2 months. Before then, I had loads of symptoms– brain fog, MAJOR mood swings (the only time in my life I ever really felt like throwing something breakable against a wall; alas, never did it), and interrupted sleep and increased body temps (no real night sweats, but running hot). And also fatigue before period that just felled me. Now, at 56 and 4 months, I’m on HRT for sleep (it’s helping), and I’ve revised my wardrobe, saying a tearful goodbye to my heavier sweaters, leaving my short-sleeved shifts out all year long (no packing them away for winter). The brain fog isn’t so bad now (although I have memory lapse blips) and the fatigue has waned. I’m still a walking furnace, but have a lot of very cute short-sleeved and no-sleeve shirts with light sweaters, so it’s okay.. 🙂
Your point about acknowledging that our bodies DO experience physical symptoms before our periods (rather than cheerfully ignoring them on our way to go horseback riding or playing tennis– those were the WASP-y ads I remember) is a good one. It would be good for the teenage girls of this time to have more options and understanding and acceptance of the ebbs (and flows!) of our physical lives.
52.5 with period here. Pro-tip – DO NOT tell your colleagues you are still menstruating. One will quickly offer you her pads, because she no longer needs them, but has been holding on to them for years (why??). You politely decline, gently, and then find a bag filled with pads (all varieties!) on your chair the next day. So three months later, you are slowly working through them…
I can totally see this — I tried to rush my ending by buying six months worth at Costco and declaring that would be the end. I’ve done that twice lol
You can also donate your unused products to battered women’s shelters. They desperately need donations!
All true… except the point is that I have no unused products! I keep going through them!
Donating to the Salvation Army is useful. OUr local organizations were pleading for donations.
I like that. You know and respect your body and it’s needs. Even if it’s sometimes inconvenient.
My period faded over 2-3 years. I can’t even state when it was finally over. Hard to remember after gaining menstrual freedom which was approx. 5 yrs ago.
Be aware some of us have other effects even in menopause… I occasionally get heat flashes …maybe several times per month for a min. in the morning while in bed. If it’s like for the next decade, not a big deal at all. There are a lot worse things in life.
I just turned 53 and still have my period. I keep waiting for the end. Think I have been in perimenopause for about 15 years.
I am 53 years old, I got my first period when I was 11, so tired all the time, regular as clockwork every month,, painful and heavy periods but on the plus side not many wrinkles, just wondering when it will come to an end bearing in mind it is another ten years of crap once you are twelve months free of periods, coming back as a man next time for sure, much love to all you ladies feeling the same way x
First period at 12, now 55, regular as ever, flooding periods etc.43 years of this crap. Never taken hormonal contraceptives and NEVER missed a period , except when pregnant. Not even with hormones/ surgery. Never even been late!! Nightmare.
Been flooding 10 years. The docs keep saying.. wait a little longer.. nearly menopause.I have had hormonal coils , D &C, endometrial ablation… plenty of side effects, no improvement. ..I have no menopausal symptoms AT ALL. I told them; I have waited..are my entire 40s and 50s to be an incessant round of mopping up/ sitting in my own blood? I became angry and said ‘NO man would be expected to do this’. I am clearly not anywhere near menopause. I have just had enough and the hysterectomy is booked for April; I can’t wait. Sorry to rant, it is becoming traumatic to deal with.
I thought I was the only one still menstruating at 53! All my friends my age are menopausal. I have regular periods, and my GYN tested my FSH and told me I am “nowhere near menopause.” I have no perimenopausal symptoms at all.
My menarche occurred at age 12. I was diagnosed with PCOS at 16 and have been on and off hormonal contraceptives until I got a pulmonary embolism from them at 38. I also get tired (and very depressed) 1 or 2 days before my period.
Thank you very much for this article, Cate.
Hang in there!