Disclaimer: I'm not a medical professional and do not give medical advice. I cite my scientific sources at the end of each post and recommend you seek any diagnosis and treatment from a licensed doctor.
Ever wonder why you feel such different energy levels throughout your menstrual cycle? Like one day you're playing a rousing and aggressive game of tennis and can't get enough socializing and then the next you're holed-up in bed with a family sized bag of Fritos?
Let me tell you, if this is you, you're totally normal and not at all broken. But, if like me, you thought these energy peaks and troughs were entirely based on lifestyle factors alone, you've been missing a major cause of energy disruption in your body - your hormones!
By now you might know I love to harp on the fact that hormones effect every. single. cell. of your body. If this is the first you're hearing of the endocrine system's true "steering of the ship," then let me quote Tulane University in saying that hormones are the "molecules that carry instructions from more than a dozen endocrine glands and tissues to cells all over the body.*"
Your body might be the vehicle, but your hormones are most certainly sharing the driver's seat with your brain.
Given how hormones work, it makes sense that the cyclical fluctuation in hormone levels throughout the menstrual cycle result in correlated energy shifts and side effects.
As a reminder, the menstrual cycle is broken up into the follicular phase, which includes the active bleeding days of your period, ovulation, and the luteal phase.
Today, we're talking follicular phase, which is represented by everything to the left of that black ovulation line above.
So, how do follicular phase hormones impact your lived experience during the first half of each month?
At First, Things Are Chill
Early into the follicular phase, female and male hormone levels are most similar, as all female sex hormones are at their lowest levels. If you're exercising during these early follicular days, you might feel capable of doing a higher-intensity workout and have little challenge recovering, just like your male counterparts would.
After a few days, however, that all changes as you experience your highest levels of estradiol, luteinizing hormone, and follicle stimulating hormone during the follicular stage of the menstrual cycle. So, if you've ever heard someone explain away pre-menstrual symptoms (PMS) by calling someone "hormonal," you can rebut that argument by explaining that people are always hormonal and that technically, more hormones peak during the follicular phase than during the luteal phase - it's just a matter of which ones.
But just what signs and symptoms do estradiol, FSH and LH lead to in your body?
High Energy, Elevated Mood, and Low Cravings
Great news! When you're in your follicular phase, you will likely experience your highest energy levels and brightest mood of your cycle. Scientists have connected these energy bursts to estradiol, the form of estrogen that helps control metabolic balance to suppress feeding behavior and promote energy expenditure*. Estradiol is the hormone you can thank for all those days you decide to go on a long walk and follow it with a spin class, just 'cause. Of course, if these energy boosts aren't occurring for you and you still have a regular cycle, don't panic.
Feeling Fiiiine
Beyond a pure energy boost that most people feel prior to ovulation, another common follicular phase sign is an increased sex drive or libido. Science has linked estradiol and the surge in luteinizing hormone just prior to ovulation to our increased desires around the mid-point of the menstrual cycle*. Long story short, if you're feeling extra horny, you're likely pretty close to ovulation and are more likely in your (~ 6 day) fertile window.
Moreover, while you're feeling sexy on the inside, studies show that people in their follicular phases also put more effort into their physical appearances on the outside*. And beyond what you wear in these days leading up to ovulation, additional studies have shown that women prefer lower pitched voices in their selection of a mate during this short window, so your mate-seeking behavior (for lack of a better term) also changes here*. Are you starting to believe me when I say hormones change everything??
Indeed, follicular phase symptoms don't just affect us, they often affect those around us, too.
Smelling Sweet to Your Honey
Several studies have been conducted on men's perception of women's scent at various stages of the menstrual cycle and found that men found the scents of women in their follicular phase up to ovulation to be the most attractive and least intense - making perception of attractive body odor a valid sign of heightened fertility*. A follow-up study found that men's testosterone levels even increased more when exposed to fertile, follicular phase women's shirts than non-fertile, luteal phase shirts, indicating a heightened sexual arousal response.
Further studies suggest that both men and women perceive photographs of women's faces to be more attractive in the few days directly leading up to ovulation
So, if you're:
Feeling higher energy,
Feeling happier or lighter,
Experiencing a decreased appetite and fewer cravings,
Liking the way you look in the mirror
Getting dressed up or feeling the urge to shop
Feeling more flirtatious, or
Getting positive feedback
You might just be in your follicular phase!
Of course, there are also some primary symptothermal signs and symptoms pertaining to the Fertility Awareness Method that you can check to determine exactly where you are in your menstrual cycle on any given day. Learn more about the Fertility Awareness Charting Method here.
*Resources:
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