Understanding How the 4 Phases of the Menstrual Cycle Affect You

Your period: The lowdown

When it comes to menstruation, there aren’t different period stages, because your period is actually a part of the follicular phase. If you’re confused, don’t worry; we’ll explain more. For many women, the wording is where things get a little bit mixed up. The menstrual cycle is the natural, recurring process your body goes through throughout the month. It’s a part of your reproductive system where hormones cause your ovaries to release a mature egg for fertilization. If fertilization doesn’t occur, your uterus sheds its lining, causing bleeding, known as menstruation or your period. So, menstruation is a part of your menstrual cycle.

When does my period actually start?

Your period is the beginning of the first early-follicular or menstrual phase, but if you’re tracking your menstrual cycle, how do you know when it actually starts? The official start of your period is on the morning you wake up bleeding. That means if you experience spotting, you’ll wait until the next morning when your flow is continuous to mark the first day. While you now know that there aren’t period phases or period cycle phases, you’ll still want to track the start day so you can accurately monitor your cycle’s progression.

Many women’s periods start light on the first day, become heavy during the middle, and taper off toward the end. Although these aren’t technically phases of the menstrual cycle, they’re often thought of as stages of period progression. Your period can last up to seven days, but this varies individually. Women on birth control may experience only light spotting — or sometimes period symptoms but no period at all, which can be confusing but is often completely normal depending on the contraceptive method used.

What are the phases of the menstrual cycle?

Women’s cycle phases typically range from 21 to 38 days, starting on the first day of your period. If your cycle is longer or shorter, it’s considered atypical. The different phases of the menstrual cycle are caused by changes in sex hormone levels, including estrogen, progesterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Let’s explore the two menstrual cycle phases and symptoms that accompany them.

Follicular Phase

The follicular phase is the first of the two phases of the menstrual cycle. It can be subdivided into early, mid, and late follicular stages. In the early follicular stage, which is basically during your period, your pituitary gland starts releasing FSH, stimulating follicles in the ovaries to grow. Because this is the time when you have your period, it’s common to experience traditional period symptoms like cramps, mood swings, and tiredness.

During the mid-follicular stage, as the eggs mature, they begin producing estrogen, which triggers the uterine lining to thicken. Then a dominant follicle emerges. Estrogen levels continue to rise, and FSH levels fall. Typically, women feel good during the mid-follicular phase with an increased libido and higher energy due to increasing estrogen during this stage of the female cycle phases. About 14 days after your period, you enter the last stage of the follicular phase.

The late follicular stage, or ovulation, is when luteinizing hormone surges, triggering the follicle to release a mature egg. This release is called ovulation. Some women may experience mittelschmerz or cramping on one side of the lower abdomen during ovulation. Around this time, you could also experience symptoms like a change in cervical mucus, which becomes stretchy and resembles egg whites, light spotting, and a slight increase in your basal body temperature after ovulation.

The luteal phase

Once ovulation occurs, you officially enter the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. During the second of a women’s cycle phases, there are two substages—early luteal and late luteal. The early luteal stage begins after ovulation and is marked by an increase in progesterone production. Progesterone is the hormone that prepares the uterine lining for implantation. Think of it as the stage where your body prepares for a potential pregnancy. If you don’t get pregnant, you enter into the final stage of the luteal phase, the late luteal stage.

The late luteal stage begins around 10 to 14 days after ovulation and right before your period. At this time, progesterone levels start to decline, which triggers the uterus to shed its lining. As you know, this shedding is called menstruation, which leads us back to the first phase of the menstrual cycle, the follicular phase. During the late luteal stage, due to low levels of estrogen and progesterone, it’s common to experience PMS symptoms like light dryness in your vagina, breast tenderness, fatigue, headaches, and mood swings.

Common misconceptions about the menstrual cycle

Now that we’ve discussed menstrual cycle phases symptoms, and lengths, let’s talk about a few common misconceptions about the menstrual cycle. At Hormona, we take women’s hormone health seriously, which is why our team of doctors and consultants ensures all the information we provide is reputable and fact-checked for accuracy.

Myth #1 – The menstrual cycle is the same as a period

Many women confuse the menstrual cycle with menstruation, but they’re not the same. Menstruation is a part of the menstrual cycle, but there aren’t different phases of period; it only occurs during one stage in your entire cycle.

Myth #2 – There’s no way to tell the phase of the menstrual cycle you’re in

While it can be challenging at first, with education and the proper tools, you can know which phase of the menstrual cycle you’re in. Many women use a menstrual cycle phases chart, hormone tracker, or symptom monitoring for a better understanding of their cycle.

Myth #3 – Healthy menstrual cycles are 28 days

The length of your menstrual cycle can vary from 21 to 38 days and still be considered normal. However, depending on where you live, the normal range can differ. In some countries, it is considered to be 21 to 35 days, in others 24 to 38 days, but additional variations are also possible.

Remember, the 28-day cycle was initially identified as a common pattern for most women and is simply used as a reference in the healthcare industry. Please keep in mind that if you notice your cycle length is consistently irregular, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor, as this could be a sign of perimenopause or other health concerns.

Tips on tracking your menstrual cycle to enhance your health management strategy

Tracking your menstrual cycle doesn’t have to be complicated; here are some easy tips you can use to simplify the process.

Use a hormone tracking app

Hormone tracking apps like the Hormona app make it easy to monitor your cycle and identify any changes. Not only can you input symptoms, but you can enjoy valuable insights and tools that make it easy to take charge of your hormone health.

Monitor your cervical mucus

Your cervical mucus can tell you a lot about where you are in your menstrual cycle. During the follicular phase, it goes from opaque and sticky to stretchy and clear, resembling egg whites as ovulation approaches. In the luteal phase, the mucus lessens and becomes sticky and thick.

Check your basal body temperature

Your basal body temperature fluctuates throughout the menstrual cycle. During your follicular phase, it tends to stay lower, then drops right before and rises after ovulation. It’s possible to use your temperature to track your cycle, but it’s important to do it at the same time every morning before you get out of bed. Consistency is key since the fluctuations can be very slight.

Watch your mood

As women, we know how our moods can change throughout the month, but did you know that hormone fluctuations may be to blame? Recording your daily mood can give you insight into how you feel during each phase of your cycle, making it easier to identify what your body is doing over time.

Understanding how the phases of the menstrual cycle affect you can demystify how your body acts throughout the month. Hormonal shifts can create numerous physical and emotional changes, so knowing the root cause can provide peace of mind. Hormona is proud to offer the award-winning Hormona app, the hormone tracker that’s revolutionizing women’s hormone health. Gain valuable insights to help you better understand your body and feel your best.

How do you tell what phase of your cycle you are in?

You can use tools like a hormone tracker, discharge monitoring, basal body temperature, and mood tracking to help you identify your current menstrual cycle phase.

During which phase of your cycle are you most emotional?

The luteal phase is when women tend to be the most emotional, thanks to sharp drops in progesterone and decreased estrogen. However, during ovulation, some women tend to experience increased excitement and energy due to increase in estrogen levels.

During which phase is a woman least likely to get pregnant?

A woman is least likely to get pregnant during the luteal phase, which occurs after ovulation.