Your Menstrual Cycle Finally Explained
Learning to understand your menstrual cycle goes beyond just knowing when your next period is due. Your cycle is a reflection of your hormonal balance and overall health, influencing everything from metabolism and mood to bone density and heart health. A regular, healthy period is a key indicator of well-being, and tracking your cycle can help you spot irregularities early, giving you the power to take control of your long-term health.
From a young age, many girls see their periods as an inconvenience and wonder how they can avoid them. This is often when they first hear about the “magic” of skipping periods with hormonal birth control. While this may seem like an easy solution, normalizing period suppression can lead to long-term health consequences, as prolonged use can disrupt natural hormonal functions and lead to further interventions down the line. It’s essential to reframe the way we talk about periods - not as something to be avoided, but as a vital sign of health that deserves care and attention.
Let’s break down what our Menstrual Cycle actually is!
Did you know that your menstrual cycle consists of four distinct phases? It’s so much more than just feeling moody before your period or dealing with bleeding. Understanding these phases allows you to work with your body, not against it.
Your cycle is divided into two halves:
- Menstrual Phase - bleeding
- Follicular - from the start of your period to ovulation
- Ovulation Phase - fertility peak
- Luteal - from ovulation to the start of your next period
It might seem like a lot, but once you start tracking your cycle, you’ll notice patterns that repeat each month. By recognizing these natural rhythms, you can optimize your energy, productivity, and overall well-being. If you’re interested in learning more on how to optimise your nutrition to be more in tune with your hormonal cycles - have a search on Cycle Syncing diet tips or speak to a Nutritionist who specialises in Women's Hormonal Health.
So, what IS the menstrual cycle?
The menstrual cycle is the monthly hormonal process that prepares a woman's body for a pregnancy - yes, even if you don't want to or plan to have babies yet! Women are life givers, and this is how we protect our fertility. If a pregnancy doesn't occur, the cycle resets with the shedding of the uterine lining - your period. A typical cycle lasts anywhere from 21 to 35 days and every woman's cycle is unique to her.
Each month, one of your ovaries releases an egg - this is called ovulation. In the lead-up to this, your uterus prepares itself by thickening it's lining to create the perfect environment to support a potential pregnancy. If the egg isn't fertilised (meaning no pregnancy can occur), your body has no use for all that work the uterus has just done, so it begins to shed. This shedding is what we experience as a period. Once your period ends, the whole cycle starts again.
Blood, cramps, pimples, bloating, PMS... oh how I love being a woman.
You will typically lose around 30-80ml of fluid during your period - a mix of blood, mucus, and uterine lining. It's common to experience a heavier flow in the first couple of days, with it gradually easing off as your period progresses.
Other common symptoms:
cramps, moodiness, fatigue, bloating or tender breasts, mild headaches, food cravings, constipation or diarrhea.
Embrace your cycle as a tool, not a burden, and remember: your period is a powerful sign of your body working as it should. Start noticing the rhythms, honor the signals, and take charge of your health - one cycle at a time.