Every girl remembers getting her first period. If you were lucky, you got it when you were home and your mom was there to talk you through the whole pad/tampon thing. If you were unlucky, you experienced your first menses at school and had to walk around the rest of the day in a state of shock and confusion. Either way, that first time stuck with you for life.
A new study shows that your first period is a great indicator of what the rest of your life is going to look like. Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine followed 16,000 women over 21 years and found that women who get their periods at 12 or older and experience menopause at 50 or older are more likely to live forever, or at least until they’re 90, which seems like forever for most of us.
Women who had their period at 12 or older are less likely to be smokers, and therefore less likely to develop certain health issues like coronary heart disease and diabetes.
12 isn’t exactly old to get your first period, but if you ask me it seems like kids are maturing younger and younger these days. By the time I got my period at 13, a few of my friends had already been bragging about their cramps and tampon usage for at least a year. Who’s bragging now, Bitch Who Told My Entire Class That I Was A Baby Because I Hadn’t Gotten My Period Yet?
This isn’t a death sentence for anyone who got their period before 12. There are tons of other factors that contribute to your life span, but hey, at least us “late” bloomers have a leg up.
Researchers are still analyzing why the age of your first and last period matters in terms of your health, but in the meantime, I’ll revel in the fact that I’ll still be hanging around annoying the shit out of whatever poor soul I con into marrying me for a very, very long time. .
[via Cosmopolitan]
Image via Shutterstock
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Cristina Montemayor
Cristina is a Grandex Writer and Content Manager. She was an intern for over two years before she graduated a semester early to write about college full time, which makes absolutely no sense. She regretfully considers herself a Carrie, but is first and foremost a Rory. She tends to draw strong reactions from people. They are occasionally positive. You can find her in a bar as you're bending down to tie your shoes, drinking Dos XX and drunk crying to Elton John. Email her: [email protected] (not .com).
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