It is not unusual for a curiosity around the menstrual cycle to take shape at the same time as a desire to get pregnant. However, many women feel confused about how many days the menstrual cycle actually is, what is considered a “normal” length and what hormonal changes occur in the body during the menstrual cycle. In this article we break down all the important things you should know!

Have you ever wondered how your mood can change for no apparent reason? Everything from your energy, appetite and mood can take drastic turns from day to day. In one moment you can feel happy and satisfied, only to feel down and out of energy the next. So, what is the reason? It is largely linked to the hormonal changes that occur during the course of your menstrual cycle.

Length of the menstrual cycle
Your menstrual cycle lasts from the first day of your period until the day before you get your period again. The length varies from woman to woman and sometimes even from month to month, with the average being 28 days. However, everything within the span of 21-45 days is considered normal!

Calculate your menstrual cycle
To calculate your menstrual cycle, you need to keep track of when you get your period. Then count the days from the first day of menstruation until you get your period again, and you will know how many days it is. There are several different tools and apps that you can use to keep track of your menstrual cycle and get an indication of where you are in your menstrual cycle.

The different phases of your menstrual cycle and hormones
The menstrual cycle begins with the follicular phase, when you also have your period for the first few days. This phase lasts until you ovulate and then you enter the luteal phase – before you finally get your period again. But what do these different phases mean?

The follicular phase begins with your period and lasts until you ovulate, which usually occurs around day 14 of an average 28-day menstrual cycle. Menstruation usually lasts 3-5 days, then your body begins to prepare for ovulation by producing the hormone oestrogen in the ovaries. Among other things, oestrogen makes the lining of the uterus thicker to be able to receive a fertilised egg.

Just before you ovulate, the amount of oestrogen in your body peaks. It can affect you by making you feel very well both physically and mentally. Many people feel beautiful, harmonious and at ease during this period of the menstrual cycle. It is also common for your sex drive to increase at this point!

Ovulation means that one of the ovaries releases an egg which can then be fertilised by a sperm. Before ovulation, when your oestrogen levels peak, LH, luteinizing hormone, is released, which is the hormone that makes sure ovulation starts!
Ovulation usually occurs 12-16 days before your next period, depending on how long your menstrual cycle is. The hormone testosterone also increases during ovulation, which partly explains the increased sex drive but also more powerful orgasms.

It is when you ovulate that you can get pregnant, but since sperm can survive in the fallopian tube for up to five days and the egg for 24 hours, you can get pregnant even in the days before you ovulate. This period is usually called “the fertile window”.

The luteal phase lasts from ovulation until your next period. Now the levels of the hormone progesterone increase in the body, which optimises the mucous membrane to absorb a fertilised egg. If the egg is not fertilised, progesterone production begins to decrease around day 21 of the menstrual cycle. Eventually, the levels of both progesterone and oestrogen are so low that the lining of the uterus breaks down and your period starts again.

It is during this phase that many women experience PMS and/or hormonal acne. This is because oestrogen drops along with the so-called “happy hormone” serotonin, which can make you feel down. At the same time, progesterone levels drop just before menstruation and all these dips in hormone levels can lead to the onset of PMS.

Menstrual cycle and ovulation
Ovulation usually occurs around day 14 of the menstrual cycle and it is possible that it will feel like a period pains, but it is also possible that you feel nothing at all.

At ovulation, an egg detaches from the ovary and enters the fallopian tube. By far the most common is an ovary releasing an egg. There, the egg can be fertilised by sperm through sexual intercourse. Because sperm can survive up to five days, you can get pregnant even in the days before you ovulate. You can also get pregnant the day after ovulation, when the egg is “mature” within 24 hours of being released. Biologically, it is also during these days that women have the highest sex drive!

The menstrual cycle can sometimes be irregular, this means that it may be, for example, 25 days one month and 35 the following month. For people wanting to get pregnant, it can be difficult to know when ovulation occurs. There are natural ways to get to know your body’s signals around ovulation, such as learning to tell the difference in your discharge or measuring your body temperature. You can do an ovulation test to be extra sure, and these can be bought at the pharmacy.

It is common for ovulation not to occur if the body is under stress, as it is not ready for a pregnancy. Reasons for this can include high levels of stress, depression or significant weight loss. PCOS also causes irregular or absent ovulation.

Menstrual cycle and vaginal discharge

Your discharge can tell you where you are in your menstrual cycle because it changes in consistency, amount and appearance during the course of your menstrual cycle. Discharge acts as a protection for your genitals and keeps the mucous membrane moist.

Immediately after your period, it is common to have very little discharge or none at all. At this point, it usually becomes more cloudy and white in colour, then more creamy and increases in quantity before ovulation.

When you ovulate, the discharge is usually more transparent and elastic in texture to make it easier for the sperm to get to the released egg. This is usually called egg-white mucus as it resembles egg white. Before your period, the discharge may take on a more pink or brownish colour because it is mixed with menstrual blood.

Your mood through the menstrual cycle

The different hormones oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone have several peaks and troughs throughout the menstrual cycle. This will affect how you feel with regard to everything from energy, appetite and mood to how social you feel.

Periods from the first day of menstruation until ovulation
During the follicular phase, which starts with your period, it is common to initially feel low energy and fatigued. During menstruation, you can therefore plan quieter activities and try to add more recovery time to your life if possible. The closer you get to ovulation, your energy will rise due to the increase in oestrogen. You may experience increased energy, inspiration and drive – therefore it may be an idea to plan larger projects during this phase.

It is also during this phase just before ovulation that biologically you feel the highest sexual drive, and it is at this point that you can get pregnant.

At the end of this phase, testosterone levels peak, which can make you feel extra strong and resilient. Progesterone is also at very stable levels, which can help you feel calm and balanced. When progesterone then rises rapidly at ovulation and falls before your period, it is more common for your moods and emotions to begin to waver.

Periods from ovulation until your next period
During the luteal phase, which lasts from ovulation until your next period, your hormones begin to change. This is when you may experience PMS symptoms. If you experience mood swings, it can be good to remind yourself that everything you are feeling and thinking right now is not the exact truth, it’s your hormones affecting you and it will pass when the luteal phase is over. During this time, it’s good to listen to your body from day to day because your mood can change dramatically!

Summary!
The distinctive hormones during the menstrual cycle are oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone. The levels of these hormones will peak, fall and stay more neutral depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle, and they will affect how you feel physically and emotionally. However, exactly how you react to different hormones is individual! That is why it is beneficial to reflect on your mood during the month, so that you can find connections between your mood and where you are in your menstrual cycle. For example, it is common to feel a craving for different types of food but also to have the energy for different types of movement in different phases. By getting to know how hormones affect you, you can also adjust your lifestyle based on how you feel!