The female cycle lasts about 28 days, although it can also be shorter or longer. It consists of four individual phases. It begins with the follicular phase. This is followed by ovulation and the luteal phase. The fourth and last phase of the cycle is menstruation.
The hormonal fluctuations during your cycle not only affect your body, but also your mood. We'll explain below how women usually feel during the different phases of their cycle.
Mood during the cycle - the most important facts at a glance
- The female cycle consists of the follicular phase, ovulation, the luteal phase and menstruation.
- The changes in hormone balance not only affect your body, but also your mood.
- During the follicular phase and around ovulation, women usually feel particularly attractive and energetic.
- During the luteal phase and menstruation, moods often get progressively worse.
Mood in the follicular phase
The follicular phase is the first phase of the female cycle. The rise in oestrogen levels during this phase of the cycle makes women feel particularly well and attractive. In addition, your ability to concentrate is usually particularly good during the follicular phase, and you probably also find it very easy to get active and do something for your fitness.
Mood around ovulation
Ovulation is the time in the menstrual cycle when we women are fertile. During this phase of the cycle, your hormones make you feel particularly attractive, you have a lot of energy and your desire increases noticeably compared to the follicular phase. If you want to realise important plans, it should be particularly easy for you to do so now.
Mood in the luteal phase
Unfortunately, the high you feel around ovulation doesn't last forever. After ovulation, the luteal phase begins, during which your oestrogen level drops and your progesterone level rises. It's very likely that your mood will also deteriorate. You may feel tired a lot, have headaches and be easily irritable.
Many women are affected by PMS during the luteal phase. The abbreviation stands for premenstrual syndrome. PMS can cause a range of symptoms such as abdominal pain, back pain or depression.
If you feel run down and exhausted during the luteal phase, you should listen to your body and take a break. Instead of going to important appointments or trying to excel at sports, try to relax and unwind.
Mood during your period
Menstruation is the last phase of your cycle. Because of the progesterone, it is possible that your mood may even get worse with the onset of your period. If you're like many other women, you probably don't feel like doing much during your period and might even want to stay on the couch all day. This is especially true if you have period pains as well as a bad mood.
Mood during the cycle - our conclusion
As you can see, and as you probably know from your own experience, the individual phases of the female cycle can have a considerable effect on our mood and well-being.
While you probably feel particularly good in your skin during the follicular phase and around ovulation, the opposite is likely to be the case during the luteal phase and your period.
This is perfectly normal and is primarily due to your hormones. So it's best to learn to listen to your body and plan your daily life accordingly, at least to some extent.
If mood swings, PMS symptoms and menstrual cramps are particularly hard for you in the second half of the cycle, you can also make adjustments to your diet and lifestyle to counteract them. If necessary, talk to your gynaecologist and ask her what she recommends.