12/07/2026
He’s well trained 👏👏👏
Your hormones naturally fluctuate throughout your cycle, and with them, your mood, energy, and physical symptoms can too. Understanding your cycle isn’t about “blaming hormones”, it isn’t even about perfectly balancing them and having 0 negative symptoms.
It’s about recognising your body’s patterns and working with them, not against them 🤍
Coming off the oral contraceptive pill was the best thing I’ve ever done for my health. It took around 6 months to understand my body’s natural fluctuations and another 6 months for my fiancé to understand them 😂
Every cycle is unique, so your experience may not look exactly like someone else’s, and that’s completely normal.
However, here’s a general breakdown for your (or your partners) understanding:
🩸 Menstrual phase: Oestrogen and progesterone are at their lowest. You might feel tired, crave rest, or just want to hibernate with a blanket.
🌱 Follicular phase: Oestrogen starts rising, bringing more energy, motivation, and mental clarity. Strength gains tend to show through for those that are strength training.
✨ Ovulation: Oestrogen peaks and there’s a surge of luteinising hormone (LH). Many people feel more confident, social, or energetic during this time. Exercise performance and libido tend to peak around this time.
🌙 Luteal phase: Progesterone takes the lead. If hormones become a little less balanced (I commonly see insufficient progesterone and oestrogen dominance) you might notice bloating, tender breasts, food cravings, irritability, or feeling more emotional.
💭 Something that genuinely helps me navigate the luteal phase is remembering “I” am not depressed, anxious or highly sensitive - it’s a shift in my neurotransmitters due to hormone shifts. This recognition allows me to not be hard on myself and communicate effectively with my partner (which he certainly appreciates!!)
Can you relate? Let me know 👇
