Balance June 2019 - 33

SUBJECT MATTER
Some of the earliest tampons
were made out of weeds, wool
and papyrus

BODY & SOUL
CYCLE SURGERY

SOURCES plos.org, goodhousekeeping.com

the follicles on our ovaries to
start maturing eggs ready for
fertilisation," Panagos explains.
"Oestrogen levels will begin to
rise to help thicken the uterine
lining, and one of the follicles
will keep on growing and
maturing. The others will become
reabsorbed by the ovaries."
The combination of oestrogen
and testosterone prior to
ovulation causes what women's
healing and vagina expert
Grace Hazel describes as an
"increase in sexual energy,
making it a great time for flirty
first dates, experimentation
and playing out desires."
DAY 14 - IT'S BABY
MAKING TIME
Ovulation occurs on day 14 of a
28-day cycle, and it's during this
time we are at our most fertile
(the three days prior and the day
our egg is released). "On the day
of ovulation, the follicle releases
an egg and then shrinks back
into the corpus luteum, which
starts to produce progesterone",
says Panagos. "At the time of
ovulating, you may experience a
sudden pain, light cramping on
one side of your lower abdomen
or even light spotting."
Hill explains further: "A
couple of days before ovulation,
testosterone arrives on the scene,
following the first half of the
cycle having been dominated
by oestrogen. This, as well as
plumping the cervix, stimulates
it to produce fluid to help the
sperm reach the eggs, which at
it's most fertile resembles egg
whites." Alongside heightened
libido, energy levels and even
a healthier, partner-attracting
complexion, this is designed
to aid the baby-making process.
Though testosterone levels,
which cause much of this change,
will be hindered if you're on
birth control.
DAYS 15- 28 - PASS THE
SPOT CREAM
Immediately after ovulation,
in the latter part of the cycle
hormone levels nosedive unless

VOCAL COACH
During your period,
the sound of your
voice changes

you're with child, which can trigger a whole host of
PMS. "It affects us all differently", says Panagos. "But
often mood and energy levels drop, making you feel irritable,
anxious, depressed, moody and more tired than usual."
It can also cause changes to our complexion, with a third of acneprone people noting it worsening between a week and a few days
before the start of their period. "Though female hormones circulate
throughout their menstrual cycle, with oestrogen predominating in
the first half of the month and progesterone in the second half, the
androgen testosterone is also present, albeit in smaller quantities,
at all times," explains dermatologist Dr Anjali Mahato.
Once the progesterone kicks in (the hormone which Hill says
"dominates the second half of the cycle") and oestrogen rises,
things will balance before both hormones decline prior to the
period. Though it can feel like a pretty tough time, there are diet
and lifestyle solutions which can reduce the severity of symptoms
"to support hormonal health", says Lola Ross, co-founder and
nutritionist at Moody Month..
"Having an understanding of the basics of what is occurring
in the body each month, and more specifically how your own
hormone cycle might be affecting your mood and well-being, can
be enormously empowering.
"The knowledge can help you start to understand what is
considered normal in terms of symptoms, as well as alerting you
to what may be out of sync and worth investigating, both for health
and moods."
Female empowerment coach Hazel suggests you study yourself.
"Know that your own fluctuations may differ and so the most
empowered step you can take is to track how your own desire peaks
and shifts in each phase. This alone will give you personal, body led
guidance to assist you in navigating your relationships and intimate
life to deeper sexual fulfilment.
"Do your bit for period 2.0. Leave your menstrual cup on
the sink. Get blood on the back of your pale linen dress. And
generally don't treat it as something you're ashamed of as you're
in good company." B

C R AV I N G
SOME
KNOWLEDGE
A late period isn't always worth
freaking out about. As Maisie
Hill states, "It can indicate
pregnancy, but a cycle that's
longer than usual can also be
due to ovulation taking place
later than it normally does. It's
actually the second half of the
cycle that is more fixed in
length at around 14 days"
This can be a result of...
* Travel
* Changes to diet or exercise
* Use of certain medications
including Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs), like Naproxen
* Pretty much any kind of
physical or emotional strain
Research suggests in a third of
clinically normal cycles,
ovulation never occurs, despite
experiencing periods as usual
Anovulatory cycles can cause
your cycle and/or period to
shorten or lengthen. Cycles
which consistently lengthen
and become more irregular
should be investigated, as they
can be a result of hormonal
changes including polycystic
ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
and perimenopause

33
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com http://www.plos.org
Balance June 2019

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