Hormones can affect women’s emotions and moods in different ways throughout their lives. Sometimes the impact on mood can affect a woman’s quality of life. This is true for most women. During all the stages of a menstrual cycle, you can learn ways to help your mental and reproductive health.
During the monthly menstrual cycle, the levels of certain hormones go up and down. Especially after the age of 40, taking care of menstrual health becomes more important, as your body is changing and it starts reacting differently. Once your menopause is near, it messes up the cycle that can affect your physical as well as mental health.
Menstrual Cycle: Why Does It Influence Our Emotions?
Most of the mechanisms that take place in our body are orchestrated by hormones. They are molecules whose primary role is to transmit messages in chemical form within our body. In women, several hormones control the menstrual cycle: estrogen, progesterone, and many more. If they are involved in all phases of this process, these molecules also act on our psychological balance. Blooming, your favorite brand of period panties, helps you better understand the relationship between the menstrual cycle and emotions.
Menstrual Cycle And Emotions: Hormones Involved
Estrogens, progesterone, and other hormones in the menstrual cycle are responsible for significant changes in the female body. Puberty, menstruation, and menopause are mechanisms based mainly on the production and variation of the level of these hormones. In other words, these molecules ensure the functioning of the body and the female reproductive system and allow the proper development of the body.
But, as we explained earlier, hormones send chemical messages, and when they are produced in large quantities or when their level decreases, it causes chemical imbalance. You certainly know the consequences of this hormonal imbalance: headaches, back pain, and fatigue are frequent symptoms of the period.
In addition, the menstrual cycle and emotions are two closely related concepts. As we will see, hormones also have a significant influence on our psychological state.
Mood swings caused by the different phases of the cycle?
The constantly changing hormone levels during menstruation have a direct effect on the brain. In this organ, and more particularly in the pituitary gland, these molecules are produced.
When the hormonal balance is upset, it is possible to see mood swings, restlessness, and amplification of emotions, whether positive or negative. Let’s look at the different phases of the menstrual cycle and the consequences for our mental health.
Emotions In The Ovulation Phase
It is the production of follicle-stimulating hormones that marks the start of the ovulation phase, during which a mature egg is released. During this time, the hormone levels peak as the ovaries produce more estrogen and progesterone. The lining of the uterus develops to accommodate a potential embryo.
On the other hand, this massive production of hormones also affects the brain and emotions. Indeed, we see that women during ovulation are more energetic and, above all, have better morale.
If you are 40+, it’s time for perimenopause or pre-menopause. It is the period before menopause, and it is responsible for major hormonal imbalance. During this period, you won’t menstruate for about 12 weeks; due to this, the reproductive hormones estrogen and progesterone levels fluctuate. The fluctuations cause hormonal imbalance, and it can cause major distress. It is also responsible for fatigue and stress.
Emotions In The Luteal Phase
In the luteal phase, which marks the end of ovulation, there is an increase in progesterone production. It is this hormone that can be the cause of hot flashes or possible minor discomforts. It also influences morale and can generate anxiety, thus explaining the relationship between menstrual health and mental health. In addition, progesterone increases appetite and makes you crave sugary foods.
Conclusion
During the menstruation cycle hormones are not “aligned” well, a large part of a woman’s health is compromised. In recent years, doctors consider the menstrual cycle the 5th vital sign in women (with such important markers as body temperature, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure). These hormone levels can affect the way you think and feel physically and mentally.
This is a Sponsored Post – the author has requested this post be shared on Women of Wisdom – and we were compensated for sharing.
