An Everyman’s Guide To a Woman’s Monthly Cycle (IOW, Men: Read This Too)

A woman walks into a doctor’s office. Dr: “When was your last period and what is the day of your current cycle?” Woman starts mentally counting backward, not sure exactly what she is counting, “Um, 13?” Am I right? Did I win something?? Woman sits back; answers next question. Still confused. Woman is me, by the way. What in the world is my “current day”, was I supposed to be keeping track, and why is it even important? I, like many others, used to be so confused about what day was what, and why I even needed to know. 

But our biological monthly cycle plays such a role in moods, energy levels, hunger levers and overall sense of wellbeing that it’s helpful to having at least a fly-by understanding. For example, do you feel like you could devour a family style buffet of food at the latter end of your cycle? Do you feel super productive and mentally clear at other times, and unable to focus at all later? It’s not your fault – there is an ebb and flow to our hormones that plays a role in all of these critical functions. We may not be able to regulate all of them, but knowing is half the battle. Let’s get down to business. 

THE BASICS

An average monthly cycle can last anywhere from 24-38 days, with some women experiencing shorter and longer phases. They can be regular due to your body’s functions (count your blessings!) or from being on a birth control pill (which auto-regulates your cycle length) or can vary from month to month. (It’s important to know that these phases are artificially interrupted with a birth control pill, which brings its own host of challenges, and we’ll touch on that at the end with a few suggestions.) 

What Is Day 1? Day 1 starts on the day of your period. The final day of your cycle is then the last day before your period. If you have a calendar hanging anywhere or use a day planner or online app, it’s helpful to just get into the habit of marking Day 1 with a notation so that you can observe your own patterns. 

THE FOUR SEASONS OF YOUR CYCLE: 

It’s helpful to think of the monthly arch of the cycle as a year of seasons, each with their own varying degree of character qualities – some pleasant, some – eh – not so much, but more easily dealt with when you know what’s coming. Fall is here? Grab a raincoat. Summer? Plan a party and socialize. Think of the period cycle in the same way. 

WINTER (aka Menstruation) 

Every person is different and your own personal winter may begin a day or two prior to bleeding or when you menstruation actually starts; but regardless, it lasts about 5 to 8 days for most women. Winter sounds like what it is – a time to lay low; energy is often down during this time because hormone levels are at their lowest. Your brain may be a bit foggy, so take this as an opportune time to rest more, plan some chill nights at home, and avoid anything overly taxing if you can – it’s your permission to relax and even hibernate! The good news is that from about Day 3 on, there begins a gentle increase of Estrogen that can bring with it feelings of increased positivity and some additional energy. 

SPRING (Pre-Ovulation) 

Spring rightfully begins around the time your period ends and heralds in a more dramatic increase in Estrogen, which leads to a sort of re-emergence after hibernation. Moods are more energized and happy. Think about it – estrogen’s main mission here is to get you interested in other people and in the mood to procreate; because of this, you are naturally more social, more curious and just happier in general about life’s possibilities. Physically, you may notice an increase in cervical fluid because of this. It’s a good time to have some fun and explore areas of interest. It may also be a good time – if you find yourself feeling a bit less social – to “get into the zone” on your own on a project because your mind is often firing on all cylinders and ripe for concentration. 

SUMMER (Ovulation)

Ovulation can occur at different places in the cycle depending on the length of your cycle; for a 28-day cycle, this occurs at about Day 12, but if your cycle is longer or shorter just add or subtract days from that to find an approximate Summer of your own (ie, If you cycle is 31 days, ovulation may be closer to Day 15). Estrogen makes it’s summit and your ability to interact and communicate with the world is greater. A woman’s energy is often more expressive, creative and free. Summer is also a good time to ask for what you want – from a partner, friend or employer. A lot happens in this Summer phase though, as Testosterone kicks in a few days in and could make you more apt to take risks, and also more interested in sex and desire. Summer is the time to stretch yourself before moving back into the more introspective phases. 

For a couple of days after ovulation, hormones do plummet once again temporarily, which could leave you feeling a bit blue or distant, but Progesterone is about to kick in, leading to a return of energy and a greater calmness. 

FALL (Premenstrual, Luteal Phase) 

Things start winding down in the fall, and you may find yourself feeling a bit more inward and craving some space and alone time. Progesterone peaks in the middle of your luteal phase (perhaps around Day 21 in a 28 Day cycle, or later or earlier depending on yours) and this often results in feeling like things need to get sorted, or the ability to focus on completing some half-done tasks to bring them to completion. Toward the end of the Fall is also the time for some increased frustration or anger – it’s important to know that this will pass (and fairly quickly) but to also pay attention to these things that you may have glossed over when Estrogen was high and you were feeling good. These could be indicators that some change is needed. 

Regardless of which phase you are in, the good news is that each has its unique characteristics and brings out different parts of your brain and personality. And each phase is entirely temporary. If you haven’t started  yet, chart your cycle for a few months and notice how much easier the flow of life becomes when you are prepared for what’s ahead and can embrace it. 

A Note for those of you on the birth control pill: The pill disrupts the cycle by generally supplying a steady stream of hormones (estrogen and progesterone most often) to your body, or by slightly mimicking the body’s own routine by increasing hormone throughout the month. Regardless, you won’t be able to see these seasonal phases, but you still might find yourself experiencing mood swings or typical PMS symptoms. Birth control pills tend to leach vital micronutrients from your body, so the best thing you can do here is to make sure you are supplementing sufficiently. Best picks: B-Complex (look for a “methylated” or “active-B” formula); 

Vitamin C (the estrogen in BC depletes this); Omega-3 or 3,6,9 Fish Oil (these reduce inflammation and help mood, amongst other things; I like https://www.nordicnaturals.com); a good probiotic for your gut health; and magnesium (helps relieve PMS symptoms and aids a multitude of bodily processes).