Exercising and constant periods age 50

[BrightNewLife]

Hi, I’m looking for input from a PT or sports person.

I’m 50 and exercise 4-5 times a week but im current peri and bleeding a lot and frequently.

I still get to the gym on my tired-er days (movement helps) but I find I’m holding off doing core : I like to do lots of crunches etc but am finding I go weeks at a time without doing these atm.

So, is it not recommended to do crunches/more intense abs work during a period? Can I do it but keep it light? Or can I actually do the core I like? (Eg slow leg raises and lowering on a bench)

(please don’t input on contraception/medication for the bleeding, that is not my question).

Having listened to podcasts on the topic of periods and sport, my conclusion is carry on as normal, listen to your body. I can’t see why core exercises shouldn’t be done, I can’t believe it matters. The podcasts were experts in menstruation and sport and made no such ‘hold off xx’ proclamations.

Look up Dr Stacey Simms, she’s written a couple of books on exercising through periods and menopause - lots of advice/videos on YouTube etc

Are you sure it’s periods or could it be fibroids which are bleeding as a result of the exercise? I thought mine was the former - but turned out a lot of it was fibroids and I ended up in a right old state, anaemic and off vigorous exercise until I’d had a hysterectomy. I would suggest monitoring what’s happening carefully.

I think cervical extropion (sp?) is main reason I had persistent bleeding near end of my menses. Yet another reason persistent bleeding can be 'normal'. Not in my control, btw, so exercise wouldn't matter.

Make sure to keep up your iron levels. Heme iron in your diet is good for that.