The 12 things that happen to your body during your menstrual cycle – from flirting to feeling more assertive
IT’S the time of the month lots of women dread.
It can come with night sweats, bloating, cramps, headaches and sleeplessness.
But for some women, their period is a time to feel superhuman, empowered and brighter, and there’s plenty of research that confirms women can own it when they’re ovulating.
Sophie French, 32, a life coach from Leicestershire, says her period makes her feel on top of the world.
“I feel like I sleep better, I feel more connected to myself and my 'femininity' I guess,” she says.
“I also feel like it's a time to really relax and let my body do what it needs to do.
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“When I'm so busy all month, my period gives me such a good reason to rest.
“I also feel more open, softer and more in love when I'm on my period. I feel like slowing down is easier.
“I sometimes feel like I'm in a lovely floaty bubble when my period comes and like I can breathe a sigh of relief.
“My family thinks I’m weird for embracing it and enjoying it the way I do, but it makes me feel empowered, like my body is working magic.”
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Sophie’s not alone either. Research has found that a woman's sense of smell improves, women feel sexier, are more likely to flirt and are more open to sexual fantasies at certain times in their cycle.
Here are 12 reasons to love your monthly cycle instead of loathing it…
1. MORE LIKELY TO START DIETS
Dr Andrea Meltzer, associate professor in social psychology at the University of Tennessee, is behind several studies that examine the relationship between ovulation and menstruation and physical changes.
She says women are more likely to start diets when they’re at peak fertility in their cycle.
"The current research establishes that naturally cycling women experience an increased motivation to lose weight near peak fertility compared with less-fertile phases of their ovulatory cycle," she adds.
"These findings indicate that the hormonal shifts that occur across the ovulatory cycle can interact with modern cultural norms regarding what is attractive."
2. BETTER SENSE OF SMELL
Gabrielle Lichterman, author of What Your Cycle Reveals About Your Moods, Health & Potential and founder of , says: "During the first half of your menstrual cycle, the follicular phase, oestrogen continually rises.
"The higher your body’s level of oestrogen climbs, the better your sense of smell becomes.
"This means that at ovulation – which is when oestrogen peaks – and in the days leading up to it, your sense of smell is the keenest it will be all cycle long.
"As a result, you’ll be able to detect subtleties in aromas that you may not have noticed on lower oestrogen days in your cycle.
"These days in your cycle are ideal for sniffing fragrant flowers, trying foods that have more complex spices and treating your nose to other wonderful aromas."
3. BUY SEXIER CLOTHING
Gabrielle says: "We’re more likely to purchase clothing that is more revealing and form-fitting around ovulation.
"Researchers suspect it’s because high oestrogen pushes you to find a mate since this is the fertile phase of your cycle, so you’re subconsciously drawn toward apparel that draws attention and is flattering.
"Additionally, peaking oestrogen at this time in your cycle boosts your confidence by increasing levels of brain chemicals that impact your body image and self-esteem.
"This means you’re more comfortable showing off your figure and physical attributes in clothing that accentuates them."
When heavy periods could be something sinister
WHEN it comes to periods, there is a textbook definition of normal - but then there is also what a normal period looks like for you.
For some (lucky) people, these definitions overlap; for others, they don't.
The NHS recognises a 'normal period' as losing between 30 and 60ml, or six to eight teaspoonfuls, each month. A 'heavy' period' is anything more than 80ml.
Another, arguably simpler, way of working out whether your period is heavy is to count the number of pads or tampons you use.
Having to change a pad or tampon every one to two hours, or emptying a menstrual cup more often than is recommended, is a sign your period is heavy.
An can also help reveal whether your periods are heavy and if it's worth seeing your GP.
Dr Fran Yarlett, GP and medical director at , said: "Heavy periods can be normal for some people.
"But if your periods have changed and become heavier, this can signify medical problems." This could be:
- Early-stage cervical cancer
- Fibroids (non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the womb)
- Perimenopause (the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause)
- Hypothyroidism (when the thyroid doesn't produce enough hormones
- Endometriosis (tissue similar to that in the womb grows in other areas of the body)
4. MORE LIKELY TO FLIRT
During the first half of your cycle – the first day of menstruation through to ovulation – as oestrogen rises, it pushes you to find a romantic partner or get physically closer to the partner you currently have, according to Gabrielle.
"This rising hormone also increases confidence and makes you chattier and more extroverted," she says.
"The result is that it’s easier and more fun to playfully flirt.
";In this scenario, oestrogen is trying to help you find a mate in case you want to get pregnant during ovulation."
5. MORE LIKELY TO WEAR RED AND PINK
Gabrielle says: "Next time you’re in the phase of your cycle where you’re about to ovulate or are ovulating, take a look at the clothing you chose to wear.
"Research shows we’re more likely to pick apparel in shades of red and pink.
"The reason? We’re subconsciously drawn to these colours during our fertile phase because we equate them with femininity and attractiveness, and others find them more feminine and attractive, too.
"These colours are also bold, which attracts more attention on days when we feel more like flirting."
6. MORE ASSERTIVE
Ever noticed yourself feeling more confident during that time of the month? There's science behind it.
"As oestrogen climbs in the first half of your menstrual cycle, it impacts mood-managing brain chemicals in ways that ratchet up your self-confidence," Gabrielle says.
"And your self-esteem rises day by day as your body’s level of oestrogen climbs.
"As a result, you’re more likely to speak your mind and defend your boundaries.
"This is helpful in all realms of your life.
"In the workplace, you can use this extra dose of oestrogen-fuelled assertiveness to finally ask for that raise or promotion you’ve been wanting.
"At home, you can use this added assertiveness to guide your romantic partner so you’re more satisfied."
7. MORE OPEN TO SEXUAL FANTASIES
"During our ovulatory phase – the three days when we’re fertile in the middle of our cycle – oestrogen peaks," Gabrielle says.
"What’s more, these are the only days in our cycle when our testosterone rises, too.
"Together, these rising hormones make our libido spike."
This means we become far more interested in having sex.
"This is great timing, since these hormones also make our orgasms easier to reach and far more intense than on any other days in our cycle," Gabrielle adds.
"This is also when we’re fantasising far more about physical intimacy.
"Saucy thoughts may pop up at the oddest times but it’s just our hormones doing all they can to get us in bed with a sexual partner."
8. MORE LIKELY TO HAVE A FLING
Perhaps due to our more frequent fantasies, we are also more open to having short-term flings, research shows.
Gabrielle says: "One popular theory is that we are drawn toward romantic partners who we can tell are not long-term mate material during this phase in our cycle – for example, flirts who play the field – because we may sense they have healthier genetic offspring.
"No matter who you decide to pair up with or why, your ovulatory phase is definitely a time in your calendar you’ll want to circle.
"Just make sure you have whatever birth control options you prefer ready to use.
"Or make sure that you have whatever personal sex aides you enjoy charged up.
"Because whether with a partner or alone, you will not want to miss the explosive sparks your hormones have in store for you on these cycle days."
How to combat agonising period pain
By Isabel Shaw, health reporter
LIKE many women, I experience severe discomfort during my periods (to put it mildly).
From dull and achy cramps right up to intense pain that feel unmanageable.
Since the tender age of 12 when my periods began, I've relied heavily on painkillers and my trusty hot water bottle to get me through the worst days of the month.
But more often than not, medicines and medieval heating devices do little to ease my symptoms, forcing me to miss social events and even work.
In fact, a 2017 YouGov survey found 57 per cent of women who suffer from cramps say period pains have .
This is hardly surprising, given research from University College London (UCL) has shown that period cramps can be .
So in my quest to live a pain-free life, I'm forever on the hunt for cramp-relieving hacks.
I tested four products which claim to relieve menstrual cramps. I took into account my pain level, value for money and how easy and convenient it was to use.
- Daye CBD tampons (pain reduction score 4/10, value for money 6/10, convenience 9/10)
- Myoovi (pain reduction 8/10, value for money 8/10, convenience 7/10)
- Beurer TENS & warmth menstrual pain relief (pain reduction 9/10, value for money 9/10, convenience 6/10)
- Recovery Therm (pain reduction 8/10, value for money 5/10, convenience 5/10)
9. MORE LIKELY TO BLUSH
Research from the University of Glasgow found women’s skin is more likely to flush and be pinker during ovulation.
Blushing and a healthy pink glow is seen subconsciously as a measure of good health which – anthropologically speaking – made us more attractive to potential mates.
10. LOOK HEALTHIER
A study from the University of St Andrews in Fife found women during ovulation were perceived as being healthier, more feminine and more attractive by men when compared with a control group of women not ovulating.
Interestingly, the study also found the male volunteers couldn’t tell the difference when the women wore make-up, suggesting lipstick and mascara may have developed to mimic the cues we get naturally at the right time of the month.
11. SOUND SEXIER
It’s not just physical changes that occur during ovulation and menstruation.
A paper published in the journal Physiology and Behaviour found when men hear women speaking mid ovulation – when they’re at their most fertile – their electrical skin activity, a precursor to arousal, increased by 20 per cent.
12. DANCE SEXIER
And finally, a study published in the journal Evolution and Human Behaviour found strippers make around 80 per cent more tips when they’re ovulating.
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The study took place in their workplaces and the men doing the tipping had no way of knowing where the dancers were in their cycles.
The researchers found the ovulating women were more likely to choose more provocative outfits and dance in a sexier way.