Stages of Menstrual Cycle

During our cycles, our bodies make hormones:  Estrogen, Progesterone and testosterone, plus some others.  And, all these hormones make up the Stages of Menstrual Cycle.  Each phase can mean those pesky symptoms we experience each month.  Understanding this can give you the knowledge you need to make adjustments to feel better. So, let’s get started!

4 phases of menstrual cycle – the stages of menstrual cycle

There are 4 phases – these are the stages of menstrual cycle that are important to understand on some level so you know what to do when your body starts signaling some important signs.

Phase 1 – Menstruation – our monthly periods

The first phase of the menstrual cycle is the Bleeding phase.  From the very day you start bleeding until the day you stop bleeding is this menstruation phase.  Some of your hormones are at their lowest point.  Later, when we get to the follicular phase, you’ll see how the menstruation phases triggers release of another hormone, which communicates with a part of your brain to provide to provide another hormone.  This hormone talks to your ovaries.

Phase 2 – Follicular Phase

Once you stop bleeding, you are in phase 2.  Now, your amazing body is working to start ovulating.  You make a hormone called estradiol which tells your brain to lower one hormone and increase a different one.  The increase of this one hormone triggers some male sex hormones, which help in ovulation.  I’m sure you’ve heard of at least one of these male hormones:  testosterone.

Phase 3 – Ovulation Phase

This is the shortest phase of your cycle.  But, it’s an important one.  Here, your estradiol levels go up and when this happens it stimulates the increase of the hormone that you need so that ovulation can happen.  If you’re looking to get pregnant, here’s your window.  A good sign is if you see some spotting.   This is because when one hormone level lowers, it can cause the spotting.  Let’s be quick, though – because this window is only a couple days at the most!

Phase 4 – Luteal Phase

Now, we get to the last phase of your period.  This phase lasts about 1 week and it is very much related to our progesterone levels.  Once we ovulate, certain hormones decreases.  Estrogen goes way down and progesterone increases.  The level of progesterone will be quite full during this phase.

So, there you have it, the 4 stages of menstrual cycle!  Over the next several weeks, I will help explain (based on my research and my own experiences, trials and tribulations, how our periods affect our well-being and possibly what you can do to make some changes to feel better.  So, tune back in!

For information on Stages of Menopause (i.e. Perimenopause, etc.), click here.

There are also certain foods you can eat to help hormones.  Diet does matter.