3 myths about your menstrual cycle
Not everything you hear about periods and menstrual cycles are true! There are plenty of myths and legends and plain untrue info out there when it comes to what your cycle should look and feel like. Here are 3 myths, busted!
Your cycle should be 28 days long
You’ve likely heard and seen this number thrown around a lot and while it is common, it’s by no means the ‘right’ length of a cycle. Much of it will depend on you as an individual, the length of your pre-ovulatory phase and the length of the luteal phase (the space between ovulation and your period) - both of which are dictated by hormones. And those hormones are affected by a whole host of things inside and outside of your control. The average menstrual cycle might be 28 days, but your cycle can be anywhere between 21-40 days and still considered normal.
Myth: busted!
A late period = pregnancy
If you’ve ever had a period go missing for a few days, you’ll know stressful it can be, especially if there was some unprotected sex happening in your cycle and kids are not on your agenda. Society and media tells us that if your period’s not arriving, it means you’re pregnant. But this isn’t necessarily true! Ovulation is the key to getting pregnant - this is when you’re fertile and your egg is released in hope of meeting a sperm. But as my friend, Nathalie Daudet says, ovulation is a diva and there are so many things that can delay or even stop it altogether, including stress and sickness. If your ovulation happens later than ‘normal’ or outside of what your tracking app says, then your period start date will move too, because the length of time it takes for your period to come after ovulation is usually fixed. A late ovulation will equal a ‘late’ (i.e. later than predicted) period, unless of course, you are pregnant. I’ve got an in-depth blog post right here which explains it all, with an example for you to wrap your head around it. So, a late period doesn’t always mean pregnancy.
Myth: busted!
Your period should be awful and the middle part of your cycle should feel great
The narrative we’re sold is that our periods suck, and ovulation is amazing, and that simply isn’t always true. While the menstruation phase often comes with issues like menstrual migraines, period pain, period poops, heavy bleeding and fatigue, not everyone experiences this. For some, menstruation can feel like home, symptom-free and a place of deep rest. And even though we’re told that ovulation should have us feeling energetic, magnetic, charasmatic and horny, for some it can feel overwhelming, edgy and bordering on burnout. The truth is, that we are all individual and we react to our hormones in different ways. What feels great for one (think about a caffeine buzz) might feel awful for another and vice versa. There is no right way to experience your cycle, only your way.
Having said that, it’s also not normal to experience excrutiating symptoms during your period, or any other phase of your cycle. Why? Because your menstrual cycle is an integral part of your body and health. Nothing in your body should be working against you, causing you pain or dis-ease. If it is, it means that something needs to be looked at. It’s entirely possible to balance out your cycle, reduce pain and discomfort during your period (as I teach in Love Your Flow), reduce PMS symptoms and stop feeling burned out at ovulation by tracking your cycle, learning your unique patterns and rhythms and working with them, not against them.
Myth: busted!
So, there you have it! 3 common menstrual cycle myths, busted!
If you’re curious about applying menstrual cycle awareness to your life, you can schedule a free 30min call with me or check out my coaching space.