How well do we know our body? At first glance, we would say quite well: it is the house we live in every day, often sifting through every aspect, perhaps with a critical eye in front of the mirror. Everything changes, however, when our eye moves inside, to investigate those magnificent and mysterious natural processes that occur protected from prying eyes. One above all, the menstrual cycle. Its full name already suggests its essence: the menstrual cycle is in fact a much longer and more complex period than we are used to thinking, and its influence on our psychophysical well-being extends well beyond those canonical four or five days in which it manifests itself with losses and bleeding. Knowing it is like knowing ourselves: a powerful weapon to listen to ourselves, make peace with the changes in our body and perhaps be a little less hard on ourselves. Often, in fact, what seems like a "bad" day is only the result of a hormonal upheaval, and abdominal swelling is a consequence of ovulation and not of the chocolate biscuit we enjoyed a few hours earlier.
What is the menstrual cycle?
Before proceeding, it is good to clarify a few things and do a general review. menstrual cycle It is a natural process that begins during puberty and indicates that the female reproductive system is ready for the start of a pregnancy. Like most bodily phenomena, the menstrual cycle varies slightly from person to person, although it follows a regular pattern that involves the appearance of menstruation (blood loss) once a month with approximately 21-40 days of interval. The length and intensity of menstruation is personal and often fluid throughout life: our cycle is unique, just like each of us. During adolescence or when approaching menopause, it is normal for the biological clock to be irregular: however, in the presence of doubts or repeated irregularities, our advice is always to consult your trusted doctor.
Let's find out together what the four phases of the menstrual cycle are, and how to navigate them with knowledge, serenity, and products suitable for the menstrual cycle by Kysh Cosmetics.
The menstrual phase
The menstrual cycle begins on the first day of menstrual flow. Bleeding is a completely natural phenomenon, due to the failure of a sperm to fertilize the egg released into the uterus. The body then gets rid of the thickened uterine mucosa and the unfertilized egg, expelling them from the vagina in the form of menstrual blood. This phase usually lasts from 3 to 8 days, with heavier losses, cramps and abdominal swelling in the first 48 hours. During this period, it is useful to rely on natural and biodegradable absorbents or to one reusable menstrual cup for a more comfortable and sustainable experience. The advice is to wear soft clothing on the abdomen and do some movement to reduce pain and swelling resulting from uterine contractions.
The follicular phase
The follicular phase begins during menstruation (like the menstrual phase) but ends when the ovaries release a new egg. During this phase, the brain produces follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) to tell the ovaries to create the right conditions for ovulation.During this time, it is essential to pay attention to theintimate hygiene during your period, using delicate products such as intimate cleansers by Kysh Cosmetics. Estrogen also increases during this period, which contributes to increased sexual desire and improved mood.
The ovulatory phase
Omen name: in this phase, ovulation occurs, that is, the release of a follicle containing an egg into the Fallopian tubes and towards the uterus. This is the phase of greatest fertility and the moment in which the level of estrogen reaches its peak, giving us a light, vital and proactive mood. In this phase, white and rather thick losses may also occur.
The luteal phase
In this phase, the follicle that contained the egg transforms into a mass of cells called the corpus luteum, which begins to release estrogen and progesterone. If the egg is fertilized, a pregnancy can begin. If not, the corpus luteum is destroyed and the reduction in progesterone levels causes the uterine lining to be expelled and menstruation to begin. This is the phase of the menstrual cycle when you may feel more bloated, have sore breasts and notice changes in your eating and sleeping habits. In this phase, our advice is to take cover with some healthy self-care: Kysh Cosmetics offers products for women's well-being that can help manage the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and ease the discomfort. And if you find yourself feeling sad and irritable, and capable of bursting into tears even over a calm TV commercial, it's just PMS.
