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Hello my lovelies, today I wanted to do an informational post on the menstrual cycle. If you're reading this chances are you have had a period before. Although you may have a period, you may not know all there is to it. I know I did not when I was younger. Oftentimes there are many misconceptions about the menstrual cycle. Everyone has heard someone say 'oh it must be that time of the month' whenever you display even minor irritation. Not only is it irritating, it's also wrong. Women feel all sorts of different emotions during different phases of their cycles. For the record I don't even get irritated on my period. It's usually the week leading up. Now for the good stuff lets go through all the different phases that take place during the cycle. What is actually happening during your cycle? Well the menstrual cycle is the cycle of your body preparing for a possible pregnancy to incur during a 21-35 day cycle. Menses The cycle begins on the first day of your period. Periods are caused by the shedding of the uterine lining when pregnancy does not occur. Periods typically last for 3-7 days but everyone experiences different durations. You may experience symptoms such as cramping, migraines, nausea and much more. Typically you may feel fatigued, weak and emotional but can significantly vary from each person. Follicular phase The next phase actually overlaps with your menses phases and finishes when you ovulate. The follicular phase is when the lining of your endometrium (uterine lining) thickens. This is due to the rise of estrogen levels. Follicles in your ovaries will also grow during this period, the hormone FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) is responsible for this process. When the follicular phase ends one follicle will develop into a mature egg. During this time, you may feel more confident, increased energy, and mental clarity. Ovulation Ovulation typically occurs in the middle of your cycle, luteinizing hormone (LH) releases the egg from your ovary. This is the shortest phase in your cycle and typically lasts for 12-48 hours. Good news you'll feel amazing during this time, the rise of estrogen in your body will elevate your mood. This is when your libido will be at its highest and you'll feel very confident and attractive. Luteal phase After your egg is released from your ovary, it will go through the fallopian tube into your uterus. Progesterone levels rise and prepare your endometrium for pregnancy. If your egg is not fertilized by a sperm, your progesterone and estrogen levels will fall and this will cause the endometrium to shed. While in the luteal phase you may experience brain fog, mood swings, increased appetite and bloating. The cycle ends when your period starts. Sources: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/10132-menstrual-cycle