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Suffering from the symptoms and ‘making peace’ should never be anyone’s default setting.
But despite the daily influx of information on the internet, there is still a perception of ‘that time of the month’ that is inevitably debilitating. And maybe that’s because that’s the way it is for most. That being said, this is one of those realities that, in most cases, can be worked around simply by informing yourself and then acting accordingly.
Female cycle health influencer, Brigitte, who goes by the handle @period_and_stuff on Instagram, shares a no-nonsense guide – “Because our bodies aren’t rocket science, we never got a manual,” she says.
the basics
The menstrual cycle essentially runs in 4 phases – menstruation, follicular phase, ovulation and luteal phase. The phases, in turn, are guided by 4 main hormones, the decoding of which essentially hands you the keys to your overall health throughout the month.
The “main four” hormones, as Brigitte calls them, are estrogen, progesterone, LH (luteinizing hormone) and FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone). These rise and fall rhythmically to affect energy, mood, skin, appetite, libido, and overall cycle symptoms.
Specifications
Estrogen: It increases during the follicular phase, peaks during ovulation and falls during the luteal. It directly supports mood, glow, energy, libido and bone health. If it’s too high, it can lead to PMS, bloating, breast tenderness and heavy, clotted menstruation. If it is too low, there is low libido, dry skin, vaginal dryness and very light periods. Brigitte claims that “estrogen is your ‘feel-good sparkle hormone’, but only when balanced.”
Progesterone: It increases only after ovulation, calming the mind, stabilizing mood, sleep and body temperature. Symptoms of low progesterone include anxiety, spotting, insomnia, PMS, and a short luteal phase. High stress (resulting in high cortisol) uses the same building blocks – less raw material for progesterone leads to stronger PMS.
LH and FSH: Together they determine whether ovulation occurs, which is the foundation of a healthy cycle. FSH helps follicles to grow and increases estrogen. LH triggers ovulation and changes hormone production to progesterone. If ovulation is irregular, estrogen and progesterone also become irregular.
hormonal footnote
There are of course other hormones involved besides the main four when it comes to influencing the cycle. Brigitte says that these are not “major” in themselves, but powerful nonetheless.
Testosterone tops the list, affecting libido, energy and muscle tone. Cortisol, which is a stress hormone, can block ovulation and steal from progesterone. Prostaglandins are responsible for menstrual contractions – so if it’s balanced, cramps are normal, if it’s in excess, painful periods become the ‘norm’.
final conclusion? “Your hormones talk to each other, not in isolation,” says Brigitte.
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