Explaining your cycle

Struggling with the turbulence of hormone related symptoms? Your menstrual cycle affects you constantly, with everchanging hormones that impact your body’s daily function, understanding your cycle is an essential part of understanding your body and providing it with the care it needs.

1)  Menstruation

The menstrual phase of your cycle is the most recognised part of the menstrual cycle, as it is when you get your period. It is also the first stage of the menstrual cycle. This phase begins when an egg from the previous cycle has not been fertilized! Because fertilization and therefore pregnancy has not taken place, your body’s levels of oestrogen and progesterone drop. The thickened lining of the uterus which your body has created to aid pregnancy is no longer required and so sheds through your vagina. With this, comes a host of recognised symptoms that vary from person to person. These include:

-       Tender breasts

-       Cramping

-       Lower back pain

-       Mood swings and irritability

2)  Follicular phase

The follicular phase of your menstrual cycle also begins on the first day of menstruation, so the menstrual phase and follicular phase overlap. It begins when the hypothalamus, the coordinating part of your brain, signals the pituitary gland to release follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). FSH stimulates the ovaries to create approximately 15-20 small follicles, each containing an immature egg. Only the healthiest egg will mature, and the remaining eggs are reabsorbed into the body’s reproductive system. The maturing egg signals your body to create a thickened uterus lining, ready for the egg to be fertilized.

What can you notice in this phase?

-       You may feel at your most productive, energy levels are rising, and concentration is optimised.

-       Your sex drive is generally at its highest.

-       Your skin is glowing.

3)  Ovulation

Rising oestrogen levels during the previous follicular phase trigger the pituitary gland to release the Luteinizing hormone. This is what then initiates the process of ovulation. Ovulation is when the ovary releases a mature egg, which travels down the fallopian tube to be fertilized by sperm. Ovulation is typically during the middle of your cycle and can last between 1-5 days.

Symptoms that can be expected when ovulating:

-       A rase in basal temperature

-       Cramping, sometimes more on one side than another

-       Thicker discharge

-       Higher libido

-       Feeling more present, alert

4)  Luteal phase

After the follicle releases an egg, it changes into the corpus luteum. This triggers the release of progesterone and oestrogen, which maintains the thickness of the uterine lining, ready for a fertilized egg to be implanted. If pregnancy occurs, your body will begin to release Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, the hormone that is measured by pregnancy tests. If pregnancy does not occur, the corpus luteum is reabsorbed by the body. This leads to subsided levels of oestrogen and progesterone, which triggers the start of the period. During the Luteal Phase, typical pre-menstrual symptoms become apparent. These include:

-       Headaches

-       Weight gain

-       Sugary cravings

-       Issues with sleeping

-       Mood changes

-       Breast tenderness

Though many of us assume that the menstrual cycle is defined by our periods, the menstrual cycle is a complex process which can affect our moods, energy and overall wellbeing days after we finish bleeding. Understanding this can be a vital factor in improving our relationship with our bodies. Though there are generalised symptoms associated with menstruation, the menstrual cycle is deeply individual and understanding how symptoms differ person to person can help strengthen our knowledge of our reproductive systems and also our general wellbeing.