The Phases

Original Sources & Further Reading:

• Clue — The Menstrual Cycle: More Than Just the Period
  https://helloclue.com/articles/cycle-a-z/the-menstrual-cycle-more-than-just-the-period helloclue.com

• Better Health Victoria — The Menstrual Cycle https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/menstrual-cycle Better Health Channel

• NCBI Bookshelf — The Normal Menstrual Cycle and the Control of Ovulation (Harrison’s)
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279054/ NCBI

• Cleveland Clinic — Menstrual Cycle Overview & Phases
  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/10132-menstrual-cycle Cleveland Clinic

• Holland & Barrett — Menstrual Cycle Phases & Tracker
  https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/the-health-hub/conditions/womens-health/cycle-tracker/ Holland & Barrett

What Happens Each Month

Your menstrual cycle unfolds in four key phases, each driven by hormones that communicate between your brain, ovaries, and uterus. This rhythm prepares your body for possible pregnancy, then resets if pregnancy doesn’t occur. It lasts about 28 days on average, but healthy cycles can range from 21–35 days.

Menstruation (Period)

This is the start of your cycle — Day 1.

• The uterine lining (endometrium) you built up last cycle is shed through your vagina as menstrual blood, mucus and cells.

• Most people bleed 3–7 days, and this is when hormone levels (estrogen and progesterone) are lowest.

• You might notice cramps, tenderness, fatigue or mood shifts, all part of the transition out of the past cycle. This is the body resetting before rebuilding.)

SHE Tip: Rest and hydrate well, your body is signalling it’s time for recovery.

Follicular Phase

This phase begins on Day 1 too, overlapping with your period, and lasts until ovulation (usually Day 13–14).

• Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) prompts follicles (tiny sacs) in your ovaries to grow. One will become the dominant follicle with a mature egg inside.

• Estrogen rises during this time, thickening your uterine lining and rebuilding it after menstruation.

• Many people feel rising energy, clearer thinking, and a lift in mood as estrogen increases.

This phase sets the stage for ovulation and is sometimes called the proliferative phase because your uterus lining is rebuilding.

Ovulation

Around the middle of your cycle (often ~Day 14 in a 28-day cycle):

• A surge of luteinising hormone (LH) triggers the release of a mature egg from your dominant follicle.

• This egg travels down the fallopian tube, ready to be fertilised.

• Ovulation usually lasts about 12–24 hours, and it’s the window where pregnancy is most likely.

• Some people notice signs such as a slight rise in body temperature, cervical mucus changes, or mild twinges of pain.

SHE Fact: This is your body’s most fertile moment, whether you’re planning conception or trying to avoid it.

Luteal Phase

This phase runs after ovulation until the start of your next period (about 10–16 days long)

• The ruptured follicle becomes the corpus luteum, which produces progesterone (and some oestrogen) to prepare the uterus for a possible pregnancy.

• Progesterone keeps the lining thick and nourishing if a fertilised egg implants.

• If fertilisation doesn’t happen, progesterone drops, and your body moves into menstruation again, starting the cycle over.

This phase is often associated with symptoms like bloating, mood changes, breast tenderness or PMS, as your hormones peak and then fall.

Why Understanding These Phases Matters

Each phase has a purpose, from cleaning up and rebuilding to preparing a possible home for pregnancy and resetting again. Tracking these phases helps you understand your mood, energy, fertility and overall health, empowering you to work with your biology, not against it.