Riding the Wave of Menstruation

Menstruation, defined by some as the curse, and the curse of all women. Many regard it with a greater negativity then positivity. It is disregarded as being inconvenient at best,  becoming a burden rather than a tool.  We need not disregard it though, it is my belief that if we play to our cycles we can increase and empower ourselves while being kinder to our mind and body. 

This article aims to inform you  on how you can can view your menstrual cycle in a new, more positive light, in which you can entirely utilise it and ride the wave, so you are more able to prosper and fulfil your potential, while maintaining balance within the body and mind.

If you are a woman who is menstruating, you may have unfortunate side effects. These could be PMS,  painful period cramps, heavy periods, headaches during ovulation, fatigue, depression, anxiety, or maybe it is just a mild inconvenience, the list goes on. Though you will have, on average, have 450 menstruation cycles in your life.

In addition to this, the period is still thought of by society as dirty and unclean. You might have a negative view of it because it hinders you in certain way’s but you may also find it revolting. As Maisie Hill says, in her book period power. Towels and tampons are referred to in advertising as sanitary and hygienic, which both imply your period is dirty. Menstruating is still a shameful secret. Gloria Steinem suggested in 1978 , that if men had periods ‘’Menstruation would become an enviable,  boast-worthy, masculine event: Men would brag about how long and how much.”

As a result of the negativity around the menstrual cycle in society you may have neglected the positive aspects of your cycle, and the powers it gives you as well as the times you need to take a step back from the world.

In her book Power of the period, Maisie Hill gives advice on how to make the most of different stages of your cycle. She states that it is going to be different for every woman, but by being aware of what days you are going to be worse on, you can be kinder to yourself on those days. She suggests you download a period tracker app (CLUE is good) and you keep a mood board of every day and how you feel on that day. Then after a few months you can see if there are any patterns in your cycle. From this information you can adjust your schedule, as much as is humanly possible, to tackle challenging tasks at certain times of the month and not others, but also be aware of what times you need more self-care. She puts the cycle into spring, summer, autumn, winter. Each season has its own pros and cons which I will go into more detail. Firstly though, a brief explanation of the menstrual cycle.

In the brain, there is a gland called the pituitary gland. Seen in the diagram below

File:Location of hypothalamus, pituitary gland and olfactory bulb. .gif - Wikimedia Commons

This gland releases follicle stimulating Hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH)  into the blood stream.

These hormones cause the follicle which surrounds the egg in the ovary and the egg itself to grow until it is fully developed.

While it is growing the follicle produces Oestrogen. As the egg cells grows oestrogen reaches a peak which triggers the pituitary gland to inhibit the production of FSH and increase the production of LH, Triggering the release of the egg from the follicle and out of the ovary.

While the egg is travelling along the fallopian tube which it will do for 24 hours, the empty follicle will release progesterone which stimulates blood vessels within the womb lining to increase in size. If there is no fertilisation of the egg then the hormones oestrogen and progesterone fall, causing the lining of the womb to fall out.

The cycle begins again.

Emma Bryce explains it well in this TED talk you tube video

 

So if menstruation is such a hassle, why did it evolve?

Pregnancy for the female is a massive investment, if the child dies in the womb then it might risk the mothers life as well. 

So the body developed a way to prevent weak eggs from implanting in the uterus, only strong eggs are able to implant themselves. If a egg is too weak it will hang around in the uterus and when the period happens the body will have disposed of it. It is a way of preventing dangerous pregnancies and keeping you alive!

There is an interesting video here which explains it 

 

This life cycle nicely  correlates with the four seasons

Winter is Menstruation

Spring is preovulation- 

Summer is ovulation

Pre-menstrual is Autumn

Below are the four seasons which Hill covers in her book, this explains how you can change your pathetic period to your powerful period!

Winter

red cherries on branches

This is a time when you may feel tired. It’s a time when you have permission to relax and look after yourself. For example, ask your partner to cook for you or do the house work for you, book a massage or beauty treatment, have an Epsom salt bath, rest and restore yourself. Let go of any issues you may have, but allow solutions you have been dwelling on  come to you.

If you can’t get out to the salon and you have a good pair of headphones. ASMR videos are good, it gives you a virtual experience of going to the hair dressers or massage. But also be creative, get a face pack, get your partner to make you your favourite dish, invest in a hair mask, engage in restorative yoga.

Spring

canal between cherry blossom trees

Fulfil your potential, build muscle, grow and have new experiences, be playful and joyous, learn new things, network, host friends, apply for that new job, find the humorous side to life. Take part in aerobic exercises such as swimming, running and HIT. Bring healthier habits into your life. You may struggle to concentrate and focus at this time of the month, so try to make work or a project, more kinetic, practical and social.

Summer

person holding sliced watermelon

Oestrogen reaches its highest peak, this stimulates testosterone. At this time you may feel confident, capable and sexy. This is the time to confront challenges head on yet enjoy the company of others, speak out for yourself and those who do not have a voice. You may be best at public speaking during this time. Enjoy all the pleasures of socialising with friends, this is the time when you want to go dating, either if you are single, or you have a romantic partner.

Autumn

person wearing gray sock standing on stairs

You may be more negative and find it harder to brush off criticism. However this is a time when you naturally become more assertive.  Put to right any oversights of injustice towards yourself that summer and spring may have glossed over. Care for yourself first over others. Furthermore, at this time you  are  highly intuitive and able to recognise the bigger picture, while having the  the urge to  tidy, clean up and organise everything before your winter comes, which I encourage you to do so you can relax in your winter period. 

Other things to think about

Hill  states that the transition days between each season, may be days you find challenging as your hormones are peaking, flattening  or growing. These days are on average day 6, 12, 20 and 28. These days may be different for different women and may change each month depending on environmental or physiological changes that occur. 

While you might wish to check your low mood is because of your period you cannot discount that it is the result of  low blood sugar levels, lack of sleep, toxic relationships, poor nutrition or another physiological problems that may need medical attention. It is best to consult your Doctor if your symptoms are persisting. However,  if you make sure that you are recording patterns in your menstrual cycle which pop up the same month then it is highly likely they are in some way connected. 

References 

Bryce, E., 2016. How Menstruation Works. Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watchv=ayzN5f3qN8g&t=191s&ab_channel=TED-Ed> [Accessed 12 January 2021].

Hill, M., 2019. Period Power. 1st ed. Great Britain: Bloomsbury publishing Plc.

TED-Ed, 2015. Why Do Women Have Periods?. [image] Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjbgZwgdY7Q&t=198s&ab_channel=TED-Ed> [Accessed 12 January 2021].

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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