The Menstrual Cycle differs for us All!
The menstrual cycle differs for us all! Some sail through their monthly cycle and some of us have more of a choppy ride. Different cultures view the very first menstrual cycle in so many different ways from celebrations in Latin America; feasts being prepared in Fiji; living separately from other members of the family during menses in Nepal.
It is a personal journey for all women, I think most of us can remember our first period! From where we were, who was around us, how we felt and so much more.
When I discuss such matters now as a mature woman with friends and family it’s amazing how we all think alike “If only I knew that back then…”
I hope we encourage discussion and openness with the young ladies in our lives, so they are informed and have more awareness on this amazing phase.
Our menstrual cycle is incredible (I appreciate we don’t all feel that way) but just look at what our body does on a regular basis where it’s preparing for the possibility of pregnancy. The body goes to great lengths to ensure the many hormones are in balance, our organs are prepared for the possibility, our uterine lining is nourished and thickened – what goes on within is incredible (you can’t deny the intelligence of our body!).
It can take up to 12 years for the body to regulate itself from the first period. The body is going through changes, adjustments, our organs – Heart, Spleen, Liver, Kidneys are playing a central role and take time to regulate and balance themselves out. Our hormones are changing as we go through puberty and into adulthood and beyond, we see this with physical changes in our bodies. All this is impacted on the way we live our life, what we consume to what we think!
Our Menstrual Cycle
There are 4 phases to our Menstrual Cycle itself, if we think from the time of our very first bleed – we are in one phase or another leading up to Menopause! On average that is around 40 years!
The dates of the 4 phases will vary for us all:
Menses/ Menstruation/ Bleed, lasting 3-7 days
A normal-ish cycle (as everyone has their own normal) is where ‘Day 1 of your period’ is the first day of fresh red blood (not brown), it is sometimes confused with spotting of blood (if you have any) beforehand.
Proliferate/ Follicular Phase, lasting from 7-21 days
Starting at the first day of the menses or period and ends at the Ovulation phase. It’s where follicular stimulating hormones (FSH) are released to encourage follicular growth and stimulate the ovaries.
Ovulation Phase, lasting 1-3 days (including a few days before and after the 3-day window illustrated)
The window for conceiving, the ovary releases a mature egg which travels down the fallopian tube towards the uterus hoping to be fertilised.
Luteal Phase, lasting from 10-16 days
The ruptured follicle collapses into a glandular structure called copus luteum. It’s key function is to secrete hormones and thicken the uterine lining. If the egg is fertilised it can go through implantation and pregnancy, if it is not it will shed the lining as a menses or period (back to Day 1 of Menstruation Phase).
The menstrual cycle can be anywhere from 21 to 35 days, 28 days is an average only with one third of women experiencing this.
The cycle can be longer for teenagers, anywhere from 21 to 45 days. The body, hormones, organs are all regulating and getting used to this evolvement.
It’s important to monitor your menstrual cycle to understand your natural rhythm. Your natural cycle is an indication of your health, changes to your lifestyle, your exercise or lack of exercise, changes in your food intake, adding vitamins or supplements and so much more will have an impact on your menstrual cycle.
Basic Tips
. If it’s possible, keep to sanitary towels and avoid tampons (or only use them when absolutely necessary).
. Avoid excess sugar, salt, chocolate, caffeine in coffee, tea and cola.
. Eat a balanced diet of meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds.
. Two weeks before the estimated menses date, drink more warming natural teas like ginger, cinnamon or cloves.
There is a Reason for Everything
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) philosophy we believe there is a reason ‘why’ you are experiencing what you are, it’s always useful to monitor your menstruation along with any changes. We rarely discuss the why’s in society but small changes in your holistic world can go a long way.
It is normal to experience changes, during the different phases. Normally before and during the time of Menstruation we can feel some of the following:
Bloating
Tenderness around our breasts
Agitated
Cravings for certain foods
Headaches
Sleep Issues
Start a diary! This way you have something evidential to discuss with your Practitioner.
Frailty of the Menstrual Cycle
Severe pain or cramps before, during, or after your cycle. If you have discussed this with your Practitioner they may have used the term dysmenorrhea. Normal cramps are quite usual but severe cramps that are debilitating may be related to other conditions.
Heavy bleeding. It is normal to have heavier days at the beginning or mid-way of your cycle. However if your cycle is heavy that you are changing sanitary towels every hour (and they are fully used) and/ or the cycle is lasting longer than 7 days. Menorrhagia is the medical term used for heavy bleeding.
Flooding. If you are experiencing a surge of blood which floods your clothing or bedding it is worth while discussing this with your Practitioner.
Clots. It is quite normal to have small clots, this is experienced normally during the heaviest days of flow. If the clots are larger than a 50pence piece (over 2.5cm) it’s worth noting and monitoring.
Amenorrhea. You may have heard this term it means no menstrual cycle or missed menses, again monitor your cycle as soon as possible and keep a diary on the dates of the menses and if there are prolonged timeframes of no period at all.
I would always encourage an ultrasound scan of the pelvic area it’s a good diagnosis to ensure functioning of the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes and so much more. The ultrasound is just a snapshot of that moment in time and not a true depiction as it has to be combined with other symptoms experienced. Also the body changes, so things could be very different 3 months down the line if changes have been implemented.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). This is something that can not be picked up by ultrasound alone. There are many symptoms which all need to be well understood before confirming this for example irregular periods, lack of ovulation, high level of androgens (ie. testosterone). It is complicated and in most cases it’s likely to be temporary as women who are healthy can have PCOS 25% of the time.
Endometriosis. This can range from severe pain to a stabbing pain. It could be during the menstrual cycle or all the time, it can experienced in the bladder, legs and pelvic region. Other symptoms might include an urgency to urinate, diarrhoea or constipation, nausea, vomiting, headaches and much more.
Get to the root cause of why something is happening the way it is, work holistically with your Practitioner to ensure all factors of your life are discussed.
Upcoming Blog
The next blog that will follow is:
Empower Your Menstrual Cycle #2: A Closer Look into the Four Phases
Published December 2025
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Authors
Kulwinder Onica
“We have forgotten how incredible our bodies are in healing themselves, our modern society has complicated what is a natural and formidable phase in our lives. By making small changes we can achieve big results”. Founder of Acu-Sana. My passion on wellness and understanding the functioning of our bodies has always been part of my journey. I studied Reflexology, Acupressure and then Acupuncture (TCM and Chinese Medicinal Herbs). I qualified in a Post Graduate Diploma in Acupuncture in 2010 from The Open International University of Complimentary Medicine (OIUCM).