body of man between fat and thin (iStock)
Aging is an inevitable process, but there are some bodily changes that you might not know about as you say goodbye to your 20s.
Turning 30 opens the door to prolonged hangovers and a slump in metabolism — and yes, you’ll even get gray hairs down there.
Weight gain
Shifting weight won’t be as easy as it was in your 20s, and you might notice a loss in muscle tone as your metabolism begins to slow.
This is more noticeable in women than in men — and is often as a result of pregnancy when the body struggles to bounce back as easily.
Stress at work can also cause weight gain, as a reactionary release of hormones can encourage you to store weight around your middle, nutrition and weight loss expert Jane Michell told MailOnline.
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But it’s not all bad — studies have shown people today tend to gain less weight in your 30s than they had in previous decades.
The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that the average person typically puts on 1 to 2 pounds a year from early adulthood through middle age, according to the Washington Post.
Sex drive
Women might think their libido declines as they get older, but experts say it’s actually the opposite.
Researchers found that women ages 27 to 45 had more sexual thoughts, fantasies, and sex in general compared to those in their early 20s or women going through menopause.
The study, published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, suggests women may have an increased sex drive due to a decline in fertility.
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For men, testosterone levels decrease after 30, which can in some cases lead to a declining libido.
It happens at a rate of about 1 percent a year, and by age 70, the decrease can approach 50 percent, according to Livestrong.
Changes in this hormone also have an impact on increased body fat, hair loss, mood swings and erectile dysfunction.
Gray hair
We’re all well aware that we could see the odd gray hair here and there at some point in life — but what about in the pubic region?
Dr Jessica Shepherd, assistant professor of clinical obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, said it’s just like finding a grey hair on your head.
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“I hear this complaint in the office,"she told the Huffington Post. “This is one we can laugh off together and say, it’s fine.”
For some people, grayness isn't the only worrisome change that comes in their 30s — hair loss can also be a problem.
Fertility
Fertility starts to drop off from the age of 30, and the chance of conceiving around this age is about 20 percent per month.
From about age 32, a woman’s chances of conceiving decrease gradually but significantly, and by 35 the decline speeds up.
After that, the proportion of women who experience infertility, miscarriage or a problem with their baby increases.
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It’s not just an issue for women — the quality of a man’s sperm can decrease with age, leading older couples to have issues getting pregnant.
There’s also an increased risk of not conceiving at all.
The volume of a man’s semen and sperm motility (the ability of sperm to move toward an egg) decrease continually between ages 20 and 80, according to YourFertility.org.au.
Periods
Women can expect changes in their menstrual cycles from their mid 30s as oestrogen and progesterone levels dip.
They might become shorter or longer, lighter or heavier, or start earlier or later than usual.
Dr Shepherd told the HP some women can experience perimenopause — the transitional phase before menopause, as early as their late 30s.
Some menstruation changes are natural, but she advises seeing a doctor if you are concerned as it could signal something more serious.
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Bladder weakness
Trouble with a little light bladder leakage could become a problem as you reach your 30s — especially for women who have had children.
Shepherd explained this is because vaginal labor can sometimes damage the muscles and nerves that control urination.
Urinary incontinence affects around 25 percent to 45 percent of women, so if this happens to you, don’t be embarrassed to see a doctor.
To help fix incontinence, your doctor may prescribe medication or recommend doing pelvic floor muscle exercises to tighten your bladder and improve control.
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