In the past, women got their periods less often because of later puberty, earlier menopause, poorer nutritional status, frequent pregnancy and breastfeeding and lack of birth control. From the start of puberty, most women were frequently pregnant, breastfeeding, or both. For example, 300 years ago, American women birthed an average of eight children while today, women average less than two. Long-term breastfeeding was also the norm. Even today, some women indigenous to South America breastfeed their children for as long as four years. Breastfeeding delays the body's return to ovulation and regular, monthly menstruation.

These differences have had a major impact on how often women get their period. It is estimated until 50 to 100 years ago, most women had anywhere from 40 to 160 periods over their lives, as compared to the average 400 to 450 monthly bleeds most Western women experience today.

Around the World
In some parts of the world, menstruation is as infrequent today as it was thousands of years ago. According to researcher Beverly Strassmann, Dogon women (members of an African tribe) have their first period at the age of 16, give birth eight or nine times and average seven periods a year. From age 20 to 34, they spend most of their lives pregnant or breastfeeding and average only one period per year. From age 35 to 50 (the average onset of menopause), Dogon women average four monthly periods per year. Like women of long ago, they still experience an average of 100 menstrual periods in their lifetimes as compared to approximately 400 experienced by women in technological societies today.
 
To learn more about health issues sometimes associated with menstruation, click here.
 
 
 
Fifty to 100 years ago, women had anywhere from 40 to 160 periods over their lives, as compared to the average 400 to 450 most women experience today.