How much do you really know about your body?
At first glance, one might say: pretty good. It is the house we live in every day, that we observe in the mirror, often with a critical eye.
Everything changes, however, when we move our gaze inwards, to discover magnificent and mysterious natural processes. TBut everything changes when our eye moves inside, to investigate those magnificent and mysterious natural processes that occur behind the protection of 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 the canonical 4/5 days in which it manifests itself with losses and bleeding.
Knowing him means get to know ourselves better, learn to listen to ourselves, understand the changes in our body and, maybe, be a little less hard on ourselves.
What seems like a “bad” day could just be the result of a hormonal change, and abdominal swelling is a sign of impending ovulation – not the fault of a chocolate biscuit which we enjoyed a few hours earlier.
🔄 What is the menstrual cycle?
The menstrual cycle is a physiological process that begins at puberty and indicates that the reproductive system is ready to accommodate a pregnancy.
Each cycle has a variable duration, generally between 21 and 40 days, and involves the appearance of the menstruation once a month.
The length and intensity of the cycle They vary from person to person, and can change over the course of a lifetime.
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 now the four phases of the menstrual cycle and how to live them with greater awareness.
1. 🌧 The menstrual phase
It begins with the first day of menstruation: the body expels the endometrium (the uterine lining) together with the unfertilized egg, through the vagina.
This phase usually lasts from 3 to 8 days and can be accompanied by cramps, swelling and fatiguein the first 48 hours.
What can help you at this stage:
- Natural and biodegradable sanitary pads or menstrual cup
- Comfortable clothes that do not tighten the abdomen
- Get some exercise to reduce pain and swelling from uterine contractions
2. 🌱 The follicular phase
It begins with menstruation and ends with ovulation. The brain releases FSH (follicle stimulating hormone), which stimulates the production of eggs in the ovaries.
In this phase, the body prepares for fertility and increases the production of estrogens, improving mood and increasing sexual desire.
Advise: take care of your daily intimate hygiene with gentle detergents with physiological pH, like those in the Kysh line.
3. 🌸 The ovulatory phase
It's time for theovulation proper. The mature egg is released into the fallopian tubes.
This stage is the most fertile of the cycle, and the peak of estrogen favors a positive mood, energy and vitality.
You may notice vaginal discharge white and dense, completely normal: it is the cervical mucus that helps fertilization.
4. 🌙 The luteal phase
After ovulation, the follicle that contained the egg turns into a mass of cells called corpus luteum, which releases estrogen and progesterone to prepare the uterus for a possible pregnancy.
If fertilization does not occur, hormone levels drop and the body prepares for start the cycle again.
At this stage you may experience:
- Swelling
- Sore breast
- Mood swings
- Craving sweets or hungrier than usual
- Tiredness and irritability
If you feel more irritable, sad or need more rest… it's just PMS.
Allow yourself moments of self-care, hydration, intimate skincare and sweetness: your body is doing an amazing job.
