4 keys to know yourself through your menstrual cycle

Several tips to enhance your self-knowledge by understanding your menstrual cycle.

Women spend an average of 35 years menstruating throughout our lives... that's a lot of years, right? What not all women know is that the menstrual cycle is a great way to get to know yourself..

I bring you the keys to getting to know yourself through your menstrual cycle: you'll discover how to empower each phase, as well as apps and recommended reading.

The 4 phases of the menstrual cycle

The menstrual cycle is a great tool for self-knowledge because it influences us, although it does not determine us, on a physical, emotional and mental level.

Women are cyclical and, consequently, we do not feel the same way at every moment. If we pay attention to our evolution, we will find a multitude of benefits and opportunities to take advantage of.. Let's see what happens in each phase.

The cycle is made up of 4 phases, and not just bleeding, as we tend to believe.. In each of these phases there is a different production of hormones and neurotransmitters. The complete cycle lasts between 28 and 29 days on average.

Although there are many contributing hormones, the most important ones are progesterone and estrogenThis means that physical and emotional tendencies can be observed in the different phases, but... be careful! They can vary from woman to woman.

1. Preovulatory or follicular phase

Estradiol levels risewhich is a type of estrogen and the egg grows and develops.

What does this mean?

In a greater sexual desire, well-being and pleasure. At this stage of the month we feel better. We also rest better and our skin and hair look healthier. We are more energetic and optimistic. We feel like change, new things, creating...

2. Ovulation

The egg follicle swells and ruptures to release an oocyte, which may or may not be fertilized.which may or may not be fertilized.

What does this translate into?

We tend to be calmer. Our self-esteem increases and we are more eager to be with people. We feel more beautiful and with greater sexual desire.

3. Premenstrual or luteal phase

If there is no fertilization, the empty follicle becomes what is called the corpus luteum.. Progesterone begins to predominate.

What does this translate into?

Irritability and conflict. We can also connect more with what we need to change in our lives. We become more reflective, introverted and intuitive.

We express in a more emotional way things that we were already worried about.. We become more in tune with our inner knowing and with what we don't want in our life. Finally, we become more sleepy.

4. Bleeding

The corpus luteum degrades and the endometrial tissue is expelled, which is why we bleed.that is why we bleed.

What does this mean?

It is not the time to act, this phase invites withdrawal and sadness. The body is making a great metabolic effort and consequently, we need to rest and be calm.

How to enhance each phase to your own advantage

Although every woman and every body is different, we can generally establish the following strategies.

We can make the pre-ovulatory phase a period of reflection and decision making.Our ovulation is usually a good time to express ourselves, to open up.

While we are premenstrual we can take the opportunity to connect with the things we don't like and to which we want to set limits.

Finally, the menstrual phase is a good time to continue to learn to stop and to learning to stop and respect our rhythm.

4 Apps and 4 recommended books on the menstrual cycle

There are a multitude of books that approach the subject from many different perspectives.. Some examples.

• Period Repair Manualby Lara Briden: this is a good bedside manual, it contains very simple and complete explanations of common disorders.
• Woman Codeby Alissa Viti: the author is a nutritionist, and in her book she talks about hormonal health, developing her own method.
• Red Moonby Miranda Gray: is a more poetic read, full of myths, legends, stories and metaphors that will make you connect with the ancient feminine wisdom.
• I menstruate, a manifestoby Erika Irusta: the author talks about the menstrual cycle from an activist point of view. She is the first menstrual pedagogue in Spain.

Some useful applications to learn how to record your cycle are: Clue, Flo, Period calendar, and Woman Log.

Finally...

Every day is a good time to get to know each other better.. Both through our body (and this includes our cycle) and through other ways. Knowing yourself helps you center your life and improves your relationships. What are you waiting for?

If you feel it's time to deepen your knowledge of yourself, you can do it with me.