6 Whether we have a uterus or not, this information is absolutely invaluable and can help people all around the world. For those with these cycles, it is imperative to understand it for our own physical and mental health and, for those without, this topic should be something on our minds – so that we can have a deeper understanding of the people around us. To begin with, it is of utmost importance that we address the significance of these cycles in our lives. Not only do we experience physical effects of having them, and the hormones that go hand-in-hand, but we also feel the effects of hormones on our mental health. Our families, friends, co-workers, and all other people in the world, all experience cycles of some kind – yet these specific cycles are still so misunderstood. The menstrual cycle is controlled by hormones that are within the body, and it is important that we know more about them so that we can find solutions that aid us throughout our experience. Cycles are influenced and regulated by the interactions of hormones such as luteinizing, follicle stimulating, oestrogen, and progesterone, and the menstrual cycle happens in this order: • Follicular phase – bleeding and before a new egg is released • Ovulation phase – egg release • Luteal phase – after egg release and before a period of bleeding The first day of bleeding counts as the first day of the menstrual cycle. The follicular phase starts with a period that usually lasts from 3 to 7 days – and can vary from a light bleed to a heavy flow, or a mixture of the two. Usually this is the part focused on in an educational setting and, although the entire cycle is sometimes studied at length, it is, more often than not, only taught to girls. We also find that we don’t focus in on the effects that hormones can have on our minds as well as our bodies. So, for everyone, it Sep22207 is critical to learn more of the cycles the majority experiences – so that we can all feel good, together. “Everything begins with when the hypothalamus, within the brain, produces the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Once this has been produced, GnRH causes the pituitary gland to release the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) which results in the growth of eggs within the ovaries. “As eggs develop, the ovaries produce the hormone oestrogen which peaks at the ovulation phase – typically around day 13 to 14 of our cycle. Once the oestrogen has peaked, the luteinizing hormone (LH) is released from the pituitary gland and travels through the bloodstream to move the mature egg out of the ovaries and into the fallopian tube.” The premenstrual stage, or luteal phase, is the time where “the follicle releases its egg, and changes into the corpus luteum. This structure releases hormones, mainly progesterone and some oestrogen. The rise in hormones keeps your uterine lining thick and ready for a fertilized egg to implant. “If you do get pregnant, your body will produce human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This is the hormone pregnancy tests detect. It helps maintain the corpus luteum and keeps the uterine lining thick. If you don’t get pregnant, the corpus luteum will shrink away and be resorbed. This leads to decreased levels of oestrogen and progesterone, which causes the onset of your period. The uterine lining will shed during your period.” FSH, LH, oestrogen, and progesterone can alter our state of mind somewhat severely, especially if we don’t understand that they are a separate layer to ourselves. More often than not, people think that we are slaves to our cycles, and that we don’t have any control over ourselves – which feeds into the stigma that people on their periods, or experiencing menopause, are erratic, irritated, and overly emotional. However, there is something to be said about the way hormones affect our minds. After all, we experience a huge amount of brain chemicals daily. These chemicals, when out of balance, or in surges, harness the power to change our state of mind on a daily basis – or even from moment to moment. Much like the release of cortisol – the stress hormone – and vitamin D – the natural anti-depressant – the menstrual hormones also influence the way we feel. Due to our hormonal cycles having a huge effect on our moods and self-esteem, it is essential to find out about more ways that we can ease ourselves in, and out, of each phase. Menstrual Cycle Coach, Kez Seery , is one of many individuals looking to make a difference to the way people experience their Cyclical Health: Body and Mind Hormonal cycles is a topic that is easily pushed aside or ignored throughout our educational systems and society. With the stigma surrounding the menstrual cycle, and menopause, with regards to our physical and mental health, we can be left feeling deflated and misunderstood. Here we will take a closer look at the different cycles so that we can get a deeper understanding of what people experience both physically and mentally.
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