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- Marina. "I’m 51 years old and this photo was taken in April this year. To me, 51 means accepting who you are and accepting your faults because we all have them.
- Samkeliso. "I am 55. My life is rich and full. I have grandchildren now so my family is growing. I feel powerful, blessed and in control. " Image: Supplied.
- Fiona. "I’m 54 here. I get told I don't look my age, but then again how are we supposed to look? I think I look and feel every year of it after a long day, but other days I scrub up alright.
- Evelyn. "Being over 50 means freedom and empowerment to me. I’m the most confident I’ve ever been and am really trying to live each day with vigour and gratitude.
Feb 11, 2018 · The author shares his experiences and thoughts on turning 51 years old, entering the quinquagenarian age. He covers topics such as professional success, making stuff, health issues, and family life.
- You’ll go into your 50s with more brain function than you had when you were 25. While it may dip a little around age 55, don’t dwell on that. Some experts believe that thinking you’ll mentally slow down as you age may make it so.
- Nearly 95% of people who are 50 or older say they’re “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their lives. But in women, the hormone shift of menopause can cause changes in mood.
- This can be slower to go after viruses and other outside threats. It’s also more likely to attack itself by accident. And your body no longer makes as many “fighter” cells to destroy infections as it used to.
- Up to 40% of people over the age of 50 have some hearing loss. Aside from natural aging, your genes can play a part, and some health issues -- like high blood pressure, heart problems, and diabetes -- can affect your hearing over time.
May 29, 2024 · Discover The 51st Year Wedding Anniversary. Anyone who thinks ’51 is an in-between year’ clearly never experienced love like yours. This year, focus on the quiet, solid certainty of waking up next to your best friend. Celebrate the comfort in knowing every quirk while still finding new things to learn about each other.
- Overview
- Understanding perimenopause
- 1. Spotting between periods
- 2. Abnormally heavy bleeding
- 3. Brown or dark blood
- 4. Shorter cycles
- 5. Longer cycles
- 6. Missed cycles
- 7. Overall irregularity
- When to see your doctor
During perimenopause, your levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone fluctuate. These changes can affect your cycle, leading to irregular or missed periods, and more.
Menopause refers to the end of your menstrual cycle. Once you’ve gone 12 months without a period, you’ve reached menopause.
The average woman goes through menopause at 51 years old. The time period before menopause is called perimenopause.
Perimenopause symptoms occur for 4 years, on average. However, perimenopause can last anywhere from a few months to 10 years. During this time, the hormones estrogen and progesterone are in flux. Your levels will fluctuate from month to month.
These shifts can be erratic, affecting ovulation and the rest of your cycle. You may notice anything from irregular or missed periods to different bleeding patterns.
Other symptoms of perimenopause include:
•hot flashes
If you notice some blood on your underwear between periods that doesn’t require the use of a pad or tampon, it’s likely spotting.
Spotting is usually the result of your body’s changing hormones and the buildup of your endometrium, or uterine lining.
Many women spot before their period starts or as it ends. Mid-cycle spotting around ovulation is also common.
If you’re regularly spotting every 2 weeks, it may be a sign of a hormonal imbalance. You may want to speak with your healthcare provider.
When your estrogen levels are high in comparison to your progesterone levels, your uterine lining builds. This results in heavier bleeding during your period as your lining sheds.
A skipped period can also cause the lining to build up, leading to heavy bleeding.
Bleeding is considered heavy if it:
•soaks through one tampon or pad an hour for several hours
•requires double protection — such as a tampon and pad — to control menstrual flow
•causes you to interrupt your sleep to change your pad or tampon
The colors you see in your menstrual flow can range from bright red to dark brown, especially toward the end of your period. Brown or dark blood is a sign of old blood exiting the body.
Women in perimenopause may also see brown spotting or discharge at other times throughout the month.
When your estrogen levels are low, your uterine lining is thinner. Bleeding, as a result, may be lighter and last fewer days. Short cycles are more common in the earlier stages of perimenopause.
For example, you may have a period that’s 2 or 3 days shorter than normal. Your whole cycle may also last 2 or 3 weeks instead of 4. It isn’t uncommon to feel like your period just ended when the next one comes.
In the later stages of perimenopause, your cycles may become much longer and farther apart. Longer cycles are defined as those longer than 38 days. They’re related to anovulatory cycles, or cycles in which you don’t ovulate.
A 2008 study suggests that women who experience anovulatory cycles may have lighter bleeding than women who experience ovulatory cycles.
Your fluctuating hormones may also be to blame for a missed cycle. In fact, your cycles may become so far apart that you can’t recall the last time you bled. After you’ve missed 12 consecutive cycles, you’ve reached menopause.
If your cycles are still making an appearance — however delayed — ovulation is still occurring. This means you can still have a period, and you can still get pregnant.
What you can do
Try your best to remember that the changes you’re experiencing are part of a bigger transition. Just as it began, the process will eventually end when you stop ovulating and reach menopause. In the meantime: •Consider wearing black underwear or investing in period underwear to reduce your risk of stained clothing. •Consider wearing disposable or reusable panty liners to protect from irregular leaks, spotting, and otherwise unexpected bleeding. •Track your periods as best you can via a calendar or an app. •Take notes about abnormal bleeding, pain, discomfort, or other symptoms you’re experiencing.
Products to try
If you’re having irregular periods, certain products can help you avoid leaks and stains and keep track of your symptoms. Shop for them online: •period underwear •panty liners •reusable panty liners •period journal Was this helpful?
In some cases, irregular bleeding may be a sign of another underlying condition.
See your doctor if you’re also experiencing these symptoms:
•extremely heavy bleeding that requires you to change your pad or tampon every hour or two
•bleeding that lasts longer than 7 days
•bleeding — not spotting — that happens more frequently than every 3 weeks
At your appointment, your doctor will ask about your medical history and about any symptoms you’ve had. From there, they may give you a pelvic exam and order tests (such as a blood test, a biopsy, or an ultrasound) to rule out more serious issues.
- Ashley Marcin
Jul 6, 2023 · Women gain on average about 1.5 pounds each year between age 50 and 60, studies show. A thicker midsection doesn’t just make it tough to button your jeans. Studies have found that belly fat – known as visceral adipose tissue – is also harmful for your health.
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