The Menstrual Cycle & what it tells us about our health
- Madison Dore
- Dec 11, 2023
- 4 min read
Growing up as a female, we were taught about our periods or menstrual cycles in a very brief and scarce way. It was often spoken about in a negative light, it was something to be afraid of, something that wasn't openly discussed, it was taboo and a topic that a lot of girls felt ashamed about.
There are so many things that I wish I knew about my menstrual cycle that I've learnt over the years and that I know now. A couple of them being; that you can't get pregnant on any old day of the month and it doesn't 'just happen' if you have sex, and the other being that our cycle just is the way it is and nothing we do can impact it.
Both of these statements are so far from the truth that it makes me sad to think young girls are being 'educated' in this light.
You can only get pregnant when you ovulate and your body releases an egg to be fertilised - this is how pregnancy occurs. For most women, ovulation occurs around the middle of their cycle and an average fertile window is usually about 4-6 days long (the 3-4 days leading up to ovulation, the day of and sometimes the day afterwards). An egg only lives for about 24 hours, but sperm can survive in the vagina/uterus for roughly 2-3 days.
Our menstrual cycles are completely regulated by our hormones. Our hormones are sensitive to external factors such as diet, evironment and stress and therefore can definitely impact our menstrual cycles. Often, women don't look to diet and lifestyle factors but rather look internally, has USS done or start the pill or other medication in an attempt to 'fix' the painful period, the acne or the headaches & fatigue. Don't get me wrong, some people DO NEED medication and have other things going on that require medical treatment, however, a lot of women don't and these things can be managed and improved through diet and lifestyle changes.
Our menstrual cycle can tell us SO MUCH about our health - it's like a monthly report card that we get from our body. How long was my cycle this month, did I ovulate, did my cervical mucous change, was I really fatigued and down, did I have really painful cramps prior to my period, was my cycle a lot shorter than last month? All of these signs/symptoms can tell us something - maybe progesterone is low and oestrogen is trying to take over, maybe there are some magnesium deficincies going on, maybe iron is low, maybe you've had a really stressful month, maybe there is a combination of nutrient deficiencies that are exacerbating each other, maybe your sleep hasn't been great or maybe you have been extremely dehydrated and not been fueling your body properly. There is usually always a reason, and when we get to that root cause, we can manage it and work towards fixing the problem.
Our menstrual cycle is broken down into 2 main phases; the follicular (first half) and the luteal phase (second half). Now just to be clear, a normal cycle length can be anywhere from 21-34 days, but you want to make sure it consistently sits around the same length each month, give or take a couple of days.
The follicular phase - your cycle starts with a bleed (usually around 3-7 days) and then your body is preparing an egg to be released from an ovary for fertilisation and your uterine lining is thickening to home a fertilised egg if this occurs. Towards the end of this phase, you will notice your cervical mucous changes to a thicker, more egg-white consistency. THIS IS YOUR FERTILE MUCOUS. The day you ovulate, this mucous usually starts to decrease or slow down. You will likely also feel quite confident, sexy or ready to get down and dirty during this time, because our body is ready to make a baby!
The luteal phase is basically your body preparing for a potential pregnancy and doing what it can to support this process. It is the day after ovulation until the day before you get your next period. During this time, your progesterone rises in order to support a pregnancy and you may notice you feel like you're running hot, struggle to sleep a little more, some bloating, fatigue and maybe headaches. Towards the end of the phase is when some women experience PMS prior to their next period. If no egg is fertilised, your period will occur and you will shed the lining of your uterus as blood and tissue to prepare for the next cycle and next potential pregnancy. If a pregnancy does occur, your progesterone remains high and your period will not occur.
It's all pretty amazing how the female body and menstrual cycle works and there are so many things we can do to support it, such as our diet and lifestyle. I've actually created a Nutrition Guide based completely around this and I've attached it below for you.
I hope you've been able to find value in this, I could go on and on about the menstrual cycle! If you have any quesitons, feel free to leave a comment below, I'd love to here from you.
Until next time,
Maddy x
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