Unpopular Opinion: The Menstrual Cycle is Kinda Cool

This one goes out to the ladies...

The female body is an amazing thing. All month every month, the body works nonstop to prepare for a potential pregnancy. Yes, this means that the brain and female reproductive organs are constantly interacting to create hormone level changes throughout the entire duration of our monthly cycle. Pretty fancy, eh?

Scientifically speaking, the menstrual cycle has two main phases. The follicular phase, which makes up the first 10–16 days of the cycle, followed by the luteal phase, which comes right after ovulation and lasts approximately 14 days (ending with menstruation if pregnancy didn’t occur).

So what is going down within these phases? Why does the body feel like a well-oiled machine in those few weeks between ovulation & menstruation and then suddenly like a bloated buffoon as soon as hormones start shifting? And why does the scale seem to jump around more than a bouncy-castle at an 8-year old’s birthday party? Let’s dig into it!

Those first few days after your period aren’t just euphoric post-bleeding bliss. I mean, you are totally allowed to have a celebratory dance party if you want to, but there is a reason why you feel that way! Many people report a positive mood and an increase in confidence during the follicular phase (between days 6 and 14 of their cycle). Scientifically, this is due to estrogen levels slowly increasing in the days leading up to ovulation, with the purpose of triggering a surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) at Day 13 to trigger ovulation.

Around Day 14, an egg is released and it hangs out ready to party for roughly 24 hours. Immediately following ovulation, LH and estrogen levels drop, marking the beginning of the luteal phase. In an attempt to prepare the uterine lining for implantation of a fertilized egg (the body is always hoping that the egg hosted some party guests!), progesterone levels increase. While this surge of progesterone is good for reproductive purposes, it is not so fun for other systems in the body… Interestingly, what we refer to as “PMS” is actually just the compounding of progesterone in the later half of the luteal phase. Our bodies take on increased appetite, tiredness, acne, fatigue, constipation, and oily hair/skin (to name a few!) all for the sake of preparing for the potential attachment of a fertilized egg.

If pregnancy does not occur, estrogen and progesterone production is halted, causing blood vessels to constrict and lining of the uterus to break down. Menstruation begins, and the whole cycle starts all over again.

So long story short, while hormone fluctuations are generally the sign of a healthy and functioning female reproductive system, the side-effects aren’t always rainbows and unicorn sprinkles. Natural ways to reduce the uncomfortable symptoms of PMS include:
- Eat smaller, more-frequent meals to reduce bloating.
- Limit salty foods to reduce fluid retention.
- Prioritize foods high in complex carbohydrates, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
- Stay well hydrated.
- Engage in at least 30 minutes of physical activity.

Cheers, ladies! Our bodies are remarkable.

Source: https://crh.ucsf.edu/fertility/fertility_cycle