If You Got Your Period After 12, You Need to Read This

From one late bloomer to another: trust me, I know how much it sucks to feel left out when your friends are shopping for bras and trading stories about periods... and you're just sitting on the sidelines in a training bra. But according to one new study, there's actually a huge benefit to getting your period on the later side — specifically, at age 12 or later.

A new study by researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine tracked 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 to the ripe old age of 90.

Plus this: those late bloomers were also less likely to deal with certain health issues, including coronary heart disease and diabetes. They're also less likely to be smokers.

Researchers are still looking into why the age of your first and last period make a difference in your health.

Of course, your menstruation isn't the only factor that can determine your lifespan, so if you're an early bloomer, don't freak out. You could very well be kicking around at 90, too!