The effect of your menstrual cycle on your body and behaviour

When you menstruate, you know that your hormones have a big influence on your mood and physical wellbeing during that time of the month. You may feel energetic and cheerful one day, and then a couple days later, you’re feeling really down. No, it’s not just an excuse that women like to use. Our menstrual cycles and hormones have a real effect on our bodies and our behaviour.

If you know how your cycle works and what to expect, you can benefit from it. In this article, we’ll discuss the 4 phases of your cycle and what you can expect during these periods.

More about the menstrual cycle

First, some more information about the menstrual cycle. We’ll use the word “average” very often, as every woman is different and has a different cycle. For one it lasts 21 days, for another 35. In addition, the menstrual cycle can also vary from month to month… But women have a cycle of, on average, 28 days. Still following? On average, there are two weeks between your period and your ovulation. Your cycle starts on day 1 of your period (bleeding), then you have ovulation about 14 days after that, and about 14 days after that, you’ll have your period again.

“Every woman is different and has a different menstrual cycle. Your cycle can even change from month to month.”

The two main hormones

• Oestrogen – stimulates the growth of the follicle (your egg) and regulates the thickness of your uterus and vaginal secretions. It also affects your brain and mood, your bones, your heart, and your skin.
• Progesterone – prepares your endometrium for possible pregnancy, so it thickens. Together with oestrogen, it causes the egg to release (ovulation). It also affects your metabolism, appetite, mood, and immune system.

Week #1: Menstruation: uncomfortable but calm

The week of your bleeding. Many people think that this is the most annoying phase of the menstrual cycle, but hormonally and mentally, this is not actually the worst period. During this period, you’ll certainly experience the physical discomfort of bleeding, cramps, and headaches. Headaches can have many reasons, but if you have headaches in the first few days of your period, it’s probably due to the reduced level of oestrogen.

“Hormonally and mentally, this is not the worst period.”

Back to the mental part for a moment. During your period, you don’t have a peak or trough of hormones. It’s relatively quiet in your body and in your head. From the first day of your period, your serotonin level increases, making you feel cheerful and happy. At the end of this week, you’ll notice that you easily make connections with people. This is because you’re extra empathetic in this phase.

Week #2 – High pain threshold, ready for anything

This is the best week of the month. That’s why we call it the Wonder Women Phase. Now you can handle anything! This is the time to get a tattoo, have your bikini line waxed, or do anything else that hurts. Your pain threshold is at its highest right now. You’ll also have a stronger sense of smell. With the mental boost you’re now experiencing, this is also the time to do things. You feel less sentimental, are better able to take important decisions and don’t shy away from telling people the truth. You turn into a strong super woman!

“With the mental boost you’re now experiencing, you’re strong and resilient. This is the time to do things!”

Have you ever had the urge to shop? That feeling that you just have to shop? Think back to the last time you had it. It was probably during this week! The underlying reason? Your ovulation is coming up soon, and subconsciously, you’re ready to look your best (with nice clothes, make-up, etc.) in order to find a partner easily :O Could it really be true?

Oh, and another special thing from Mother Nature: around the time of your ovulation and just before it (your ovulation is the time when you’re fertile), your libido increases, and you’re totally in the mood for sex! Sex also feels better, and you’re more likely to reach orgasm.

Week #3 Ovulation and attractiveness

Welcome to the week of your ovulation. Not your best week, but if you know how to deal with it, it’s not so bad.

During this phase, you’ll notice that you’ll have more vaginal discharge and that it changes in substance. Some women describe it as looking like egg white. It’s thinner and slimy, as it makes it easier to receive the sperm and guide it to the egg. This is even a way for some women to trace their ovulation. They keep an eye on their discharge throughout the month, and when they see it getting slimier and thinner, they know they’re probably ovulating soon.

“Just before you ovulate, you subconsciously make yourself more attractive.”

Throughout this phase, your body will do everything in its power to promote pregnancy. Your voice will also change (very subtly, of course) to make you more attractive to others. Often, it’ll sound a little higher and hazier. And you’ll feel more like having sex, and we all know that a pregnancy cannot happen without sex ; )

Vaginal discharge: why do we have it?

• Moisture: It keeps your vagina moist.
• Cleansing: The discharge expels dead skin cells and bacteria. It keeps your vagina clean and healthy.
• Protection: It prevents bad bacteria from entering the uterus.

During this week, you may experience pre-PMS symptoms. You may feel a bit irritable and emotional. In addition, you may experience some skin issues, especially around your chin and jaw. But fortunately, this won’t last long. The reason? Your oestrogen levels are dropping.

During ovulation you have a high libido, but a few days after that, your libido will drop again. The high levels of progesterone provide a “narcotic” effect, which makes you feel less energetic about everything. You won’t be very motivated to exercise, but if you want to lose weight, you should actually do this right now! In this phase of your menstrual cycle, you burn calories about 30% faster!

Week #4 PMS – SOS, SOS!

PMS… hello! This is the least favourite week of most women. The imbalance of your hormones causes typical PMS syndromes: depression, anxiety, irritability, and mood swings. The increasing oestrogen will make you feel a bit hotter, and the low progesterone (remember that narcotic hormone?) will make it harder for you to fall asleep. However, this is what you can do if you can’t fall asleep: your libido will come back during this time, and combined with the irritation you may feel, you can use this for a nice session of rough sex!

“The imbalance of your hormones causes typical PMS syndromes: depression, anxiety, irritability, and mood swings.”

Many women find that their breasts grow in the run-up to their period. Breasts can grow a full cup size and, because they’re swollen, they’ll also be firmer and rounder than on other days. While your breasts may look very (very) nice now, they’re likely to be very sensitive and sore.

Have you noticed that just before your period, it’s harder to do a number two on the toilet? That’s because the hormones that make your uterus get ready for your period can accidentally affect your, yes, anus. Of course, these areas are very close together, so this can cause you to suffer from diarrhoea or constipation. You can even suffer from this during your period. Ugh! It’s okay to cry, by the way, because during this phase, you can cry about absolutely everything. A cute video of a duckling, a cheerleader in a dinosaur suit doing a funny cartwheel, or someone who says you’ve got a stain on your trousers (yes, these are – unfortunately – true stories).

“Ugh! It’s okay to cry, by the way, because during this phase, you can cry about absolutely everything.”

As if all this wasn’t annoying enough, your pain threshold is very low, and you may feel insecure. While you’re normally very pleased with yourself, you can now stare in the mirror and be extremely unhappy with what you’re seeing. You might try on 20 outfits, but everything looks ugly. Your hair doesn’t want to do its thing, and you don’t like your body anymore either. You don’t know what’s happening to you until you realise that your period is coming along again. The best thing you can do is just accept it and realise that this feeling will be gone in a day or two.

Our tip? Warn people you see a lot that it’s the time of the month. They can be more considerate and know that you might react a little differently.

What is the craziest/funniest/weirdest thing you’ve cried about because of your hormones?