Not only is there a lot going on in the world, but we still have our period every month. Our bodies as females don’t stop their cycle and it’s important to think about how these uncertain times might effect us psychologically and physically.
When I was ill from coronavirus in March and April, not only did I have my period twice during my sickness, I was also PMS-ing! I couldn’t believe that I not only had to deal with COVID, but I also had to make it to the bathroom to change my tampon, when just getting up and walking was a struggle! But at the same time, with this process as a woman that happens every month, it felt reassuring that there was some feeling of normalcy amidst the chaos my body was going through.
With so much time spent at home and none of the normal activities I participate in, I’ve had a lot more free time, and consequently, have gotten to know myself a lot better. I can now see patterns in my emotions, from my journaling, and feel all the changes within myself during the four phases of my menstrual cycle. This time has given me the ability to really reflect on what helps my body thrive and what it means to just survive. For instance, I’ve finally figured out that I’m lactose intolerant, I was able to narrow down my diet to figure out what was straining my body. But what’s been the most helpful has been feeling at ease with my cycle.
Phase 1: Menstruation
The first phase of your menstrual cycle is menstruation. We all know what this is, the extra lining of your uterus exiting your vagina. And this phase of your cycle lasts between three days to a week for most women.
Menstruation continues to happen to women’s bodies even during hard times. We’re still having our cycle during the pandemic, but it’s important to embrace your cycle, it’s telling you that you are healthy and well.
And now there are so many new technologies to help aid you with your cycle. For instance, for the stresses and anxieties present during PMS, you can pick up Jubilance, the vitamin that helps you stop feeling irritable and stressed during your cycle. In clinical trials, women found Jubilance 80% effective, PMS can be optional!
Phase 2: Follicular
The second phase of your menstrual cycle is the follicular, or pre-ovulatory, phase. This phase may feel a little less pronounced than the others, it’s around Days 6-10 of your 28 day cycle. It starts on the first day of menstruation and ends at the start of the ovulation phase. What is happening is prompted by the hypothalamus; the pituitary gland releases a follicle-stimulating hormone. This hormone then stimulates the ovary to produce around 10 follicles which each house an immature egg. Usually, only one follicle will mature into an egg, which stimulates the lining of the uterus to thicken in preparation for the possibility of pregnancy.
Phase 3: Ovulation
Ovulation is the third phase in the cycle that happens around two weeks before menstruation starts. The previous phase (follicular) causes a rise of estrogen levels and the brain recognizes that these levels are thus rising and releases a hormone called gonadotrophin. This hormone then prompts the pituitary gland to make higher levels of luteinizing hormone (LH). All of this is all in order to trigger ovulation by the high levels of LH.
During ovulation, the egg is pushed into the fallopian tube towards the uterus and the egg will typically last 24 hours. Unless it meets sperm, the egg will die. This is why ovulation is known as the “fertile window” during your cycle.
Phase 4: Luteal Phase
The Luteal phase is the final phase in the menstrual cycle and occurs around day 22 in a 28 day cycle. The egg has busted away from the follicle during the ovulation phase, but the follicle is still in the ovary and starts releasing estrogen and progesterone, creating the thickening of the lining of the uterus, which then is shed during menstruation.
All of these phases can give you insights on what is happening to your body, and now you can even spend some time starting to understand them more. It’s a terrible time in the world, but our cycles make us female, they make us realize that we’re healthy, and they connect us to one another. Every female, or person with a period, goes through this similar experience, so we can take comfort in the fact that we’re facing this altogether, and we’re facing the pandemic together.
The times right now are completely uncertain, but the timing of our menstrual cycle is not. It came before the pandemic, and will come after, let it reassure you that normalcy is still around in some fashion. And remember, all of us at Jubilance are here for you, we’re here to help women, to express ourselves, and if you haven’t already joined our private group on Facebook, do so HERE to talk to other women going through the trials and tribulations of womanhood.
