BKT Blog

HORMONES & THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE – PART 1

Hi friend! If you are a biological woman, chances are that you bleed once a month-ish. While it can be annoying and sometimes ruin our plans, it can also be a relief, right? Have you ever wondered what actually happens inside our body to make it all happen? If you don’t have a period, I bet you know people that experience a menstrual cycle. This means that this is relevant to us all!

You might have also thought about why we feel the way we do at different points in our cycles. One day you have the energy to conquer the world and a few days later you feel like you want to hibernate in bed with chocolate and Netflix.

According to Unicef (2023), around 1.8 billion people experience menstruation (26% of the population), but how much do we really know about all of this?

My experience with my reproductive health has been a rollercoaster ride. When I was a teenager, I experienced painful periods with symptoms like fatigue and wild mood changes. I was prescribed the contraceptive pill and cycled (pun intended) through several forms of contraceptives because of the unwanted side effects (breakthrough bleeding, migraines, cramps, acne and even ovarian cysts). It wasn’t until my late 20s that I gave up trying to manage those ugly side effects and sought to manage my hormones naturally, with the help of a nutritionist. 

I went on a deep dive to learn about the menstrual cycle and reproductive health in a quest to understand my symptoms and how I could manage them. What I learned has been eye-opening and incredibly helpful. I am pleased to report that today I have a relatively unproblematic period and know exactly what I need to do to keep it this way.

We’ve prepared a couple of posts about the menstrual cycle, sharing some of the information that I found helpful in my journey to better health. I hope that this information sparks your curiosity to learn more about how your own body functions, to understand that you’re not alone in your struggles (God’s got you) and to have the confidence to seek professional support when required.

Let’s get back to basics, how much do we actually know about what occurs every 21-38 days in the lives of most women? 

The Menstrual Cycle

The menstrual cycle is the sequence of events through which an egg is released from the ovary, develops within a follicle, bursts out and travels to the uterus. This is followed by the development of the corpus luteum, which stimulates progesterone and causes the lining of the uterus to become thicker. If the egg is not fertilised, the corpus luteum shrinks and the endometrium is shed at menstruation. There is a lot that happens in each stage, with different hormones making a huge impact on how we feel during the different days and weeks of the cycle. 

Many women go through their cycles and don’t notice any major differences in how they feel physically or mentally. Their periods might also be relatively easy to navigate. However, some people experience a range of symptoms that make their periods really difficult.

Certain things are expected to happen throughout the menstrual cycle, with these changes reflected in how we feel physically and mentally, however, no two menstruating people will feel exactly the same.

We are also going to be discussing fertility as part of our menstrual cycle since a healthy ovulation typically signifies fertility. We want to acknowledge that there are women who struggle with fertility and it is a sensitive topic. If you or someone you know struggles with fertility, we honour you and pray that you find comfort in God’s never-ending grace.

Sexual reproductive hormones 

Now that we have set the scene, let’s learn about the key actors and their roles. 

Starting from the very top, what are hormones? 

Hormones are substances that are produced in an organ or gland in our body, such as the thyroid or pituitary gland, which then pass into our bloodstream and are taken into other organs or tissues to modify their structure or function. Some examples of hormones include adrenaline, oestrogen, thyroid hormones, and insulin. 

Let’s look at some of the key hormones involved in the menstrual cycle.

Progesterone

Progesterone is a hardworking host who works overtime to make sure everything is ready for the guest of honour. Progesterone is a hormone secreted by the corpus luteum of the ovary, which is formed monthly as part of the menstrual cycle. Progesterone is released after ovulation, in the luteal phase. Progesterone’s main function is to thicken the inner lining (endometrium) of the uterus in preparation for possible pregnancy. If pregnancy occurs, the corpus luteum continues to maintain high levels of progesterone, which plays an important part in the development of the placenta, the fetus and other aspects of pregnancy. If fertilisation does not take place, the corpus luteum breaks down and progesterone decreases. Going back to progesterone as the host, they clean up the house and restart the preparations for next month’s guests.

Oestrogen (also known as estrogen) 

This winning hormone is the chief of female sexual development. There are three types of oestrogen in the body (oestrone, oestradiol and oestriol). Oestradiol is the strongest form of oestrogen and the one that has the biggest function in the menstrual cycle. Oestradiol levels increase as the follicles in the ovary grow, which leads to higher levels of the Lutenising Hormone, which then helps the egg mature and be released from the ovary. Oestradiol also supports the thickening of the endometrium. 

Luteinising Hormone (LH) 

The lutenising hormone is like the charge of electricity that gets all the cogs moving, the main cog being ovulation and then triggers progesterone. Not only that, if fertilisation occurs, LH also supports pregnancy through the production of hormones. It is safe to say that LH wants to be involved all the way through. The luteinising hormone is one of the main drivers of the menstrual cycle and has different responsibilities pre and post-ovulation. In the first half of the cycle, LH stimulates the follicles in the ovary to produce oestradiol (one form of oestrogen). Around day 14 of the cycle, an increase in LH causes ovulation. Then once the corpus luteum is formed, LH stimulates it to produce progesterone. In men, LH stimulates the testes to produce testosterone. The lutenising hormone is produced by the pituitary gland.

Follicle-stimulating hormone (or FSH)

Think of the writers of your favourite show, sometimes overlooked but figuratively birthed your favourite characters into existence. FSH supports the creation of both the follicles in the ovary AND sperm in the testes. The follicle-stimulating hormone stimulates the growth of the follicle in the ovary before it is released at the time of ovulation, and increases the production of oestradiol. In men, it stimulates sperm production. FSH and LH are essentially teammates across the menstrual cycle.

Thoughts to consider:

• What is your menstrual cycle like? 
• Do you notice any major differences in your body and mind throughout the month?
  

References

Your Hormones. (n.d.). Luteinising hormone. Retrieved July 18, 2024, from https://www.yourhormones.info/hormones/luteinising-hormone/

Your Hormones. (n.d.). Follicle-stimulating hormone. Retrieved July 18, 2024, from https://www.yourhormones.info/hormones/follicle-stimulating-hormone/

Jean Hailes. (2018). My period – What’s normal? Retrieved August 20, 2023, from https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/resources/my-period-whats-normal

Jean Hailes. (2018). Premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Retrieved September 3, 2023, from https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/periods/premenstrual-syndrome-pms

Hill, M. (2019). Period power. Green Tree.

Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT. (n.d.). Menstrual cycle. Retrieved May 30, 2023, from https://shvic.org.au/for-you/reproductive-and-sexual-health/menstrual-cycle

Brighten, J. (n.d.). Phases of the menstrual cycle. Retrieved May 23, 2023, from https://drbrighten.com/phases-of-the-menstrual-cycle/

UNICEF. (n.d.). Menstrual hygiene: Gender inequality, cultural taboos and poverty can cause menstrual health needs to go unmet. Retrieved August 29, 2023, from https://www.unicef.org/wash/menstrual-hygiene

Health Direct. (2022). Heavy periods. Retrieved September 3, 2023, from https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/heavy-periods