This Is How Long You'll Live, According to Your Period

#1 Here’s yet another reason that periods are a magical thing: they might be able to reveal secrets about your lifespan.

#2

While living into your 90s—or even to 100—isn't as rare a phenomenon as it once was (especially for women), no one quite knows what biological components or behavioral "secrets" make someone predisposed for such a long life span. Is it sushi and sleep? Three beers and a shot of Johnnie Walker every day? Researchers seem to think there's one big factor that might play a role: Your period.

#3

A new study reveals that the age you get your first period might predict how long you’ll live. Weird, we know.

Researchers from the University of California, San Diego, examined data from the Women’s Health Initiative, which tracked 16,000 postmenopausal women from the U.S.

The results? Late bloomers are likely to live longer.

#4

For the study, published in the journal Menopause, researchers looked at data from the Women's Health Initiative, a long-term analysis of 16,000 postmenopausal U.S. women. Their fascinating finding: Participants who began menstruating at 12 or older, and who experienced menopause at 50 or older, had a higher chance of making it to their 90th birthday party.

Not surprisingly, the women who lived to 90 were more likely to report higher levels of physical activity, and were less likely to be obese, to be current smokers, or to have a history of age-related diseases. These women were also more likely to be drinkers. (So apparently, no need to kick that pinot habit!)

#5

"Women who started menstruation at age 12 or older, experienced menopause, either naturally or surgically, at age 50 or older and had more than 40 reproductive years had increased odds of living to 90-years-old," said Aladdin Shadyab, PhD, of UC San Diego School of Medicine.

"Our team found that women who started menstruation at a later age were less likely to have certain health issues, like coronary heart disease, and those who experienced menopause later in life were more likely to be in excellent health overall, which may be a possible explanation for our findings," said study author Aladdin Shadyab, Ph.D., in a press release.

#6

Women who started menstruation and experienced menopause at a later age were also less likely to be smokers or have a history of diabetes.

"Factors, such as smoking, can damage the cardiovascular system and ovaries, which can result in earlier menopause. Women with later menopause and a longer reproductive lifespan may have decreased risk of cardiovascular diseases," said Shadyab.

#7

If you got your period when you were 10, this probably isn't the most encouraging thing you've read today. But it's not all out of your control: Lifestyle factors such as smoking can damage the cardiovascular system and ovaries, which can cause you to start menopause earlier. And as with all studies, additional research is needed to "precisely define the relationship between the timing of reproductive events and a woman's length of life." They also need to explain how heavily lifestyle, genetic, and environmental factors come into play—so early bloomers don't need to get their panties in a twist quite yet.

#8

So it’s not entirely clear what’s going on.

But regardless, rejoice, late bloomers. Not only have you managed to avoid a few years of the struggle of being a young person dealing with periods, but you also might end up living longer. Hooray.