Most of us feel a change in our mental and emotional state when we’re on our period or just before it arrives. Sometimes we’re moody and highly irritable, and at other times, we feel down and are snippy with others for no reason.
But then it all calms down and we’re on a natural high for a number of days. Our hormones that regulate our menstrual cycle are to blame for this rollercoaster of emotions. And they affect us in different ways during specific times of the month.
So the next time you find yourself crying at panda videos while tucking into a chocolate bar – yes, the whole bar – remember that it’s not something you have much control over as, unfortunately, your hormones are just doing what they’re meant to do.
Read on to find out how our hormones affect us during the four phases of our menstrual cycle.
In case you need a reminder: The average length of a menstrual cycle is 28 days. But it can be anywhere between 21 and 35 days – or even shorter or longer than that. To figure out how long your menstrual cycle is, count from the first day of your period to the day before your next period arrives.