MENSTURATION NATION

WRITTEN BY Abigail Preiszig DESIGN BY Jakob Roberts

How cycle syncing can help you take control of your period

Ionce saw a meme that truly resonated with me as a period-having individual. It read: “I don’t use a period tracker, I just wait until I’ve started drafting my suicide letter and then I know she’s coming.”

Now, this may be a drastic example of how one may feel before their period, but it resonated with me because — like many people — my emotions tend to intensify at the beginning of my menstrual cycle. I may feel more lethargic, irritated or sad for seemingly no reason, then… there she is: the crimson storm.

Recently, I scrolled upon TikToks from creator @ simplysyncd about the four phases of a menstrual cycle and how they can impact your mood, focus, skin, sleep, social battery, desire to move and more. This turned me on to cycle syncing, or the process of keeping track of the phases of your menstrual cycle and adjusting your lifestyle accordingly.

A menstrual cycle typically lasts an average of 21 to 35 days and is made up of four phases — menstrual, follicular, ovulatory and luteal — that can be compared to the four seasons.

Below we will review what happens during each menstrual cycle, how one may feel, and how to best harness it through activities, food and movement.

Please note that each phase length may vary between individuals and that this is not something period-having people must follow closely. However, some ideas may be helpful.

The Menstrual Phase (days one to five of the menstrual cycle, internal winter)

The science:

This is where it all starts for menstruating individuals: a New Year's Day of sorts. The first menstruation, scientifically termed the menarche — kinda cute, but it also sounds like a supervillain — happens during puberty. This is usually around the age of 12 or 13, but can vary between ages eight and 16.

The menstruation phase is when the individual menstruates, or gets their period. A period is the shedding of the uterine lining that flows through the cervix and out of the vagina. The thick lining, also known as the endometrial lining, consists of blood, mucus, nutrients and some cells. Bleeding from the vagina will typically lasts three to seven days and one can lose an average of two to three tablespoons of blood.

The feelings and emotions: