Inside Health Weekly

4 friends, 4 phases, and 1 storyline you didn’t see coming.

From NYC drama to hormone drama, the rule is the same: don’t call her crazy until you’ve heard her side. Period.

This week, we’re diving into the female menstrual cycle. No cycle? No problem! Take this as your cheat sheet to actually understand the people who do. Friendships, hookups, relationships… it all clicks once you understand the science behind the drama. Let’s go.

Sex (and Hormones) in the City:

Don’t tell me your horoscope, tell me which Sex and the City girl you are. Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, Miranda… and your cycle, starring in the same drama. From stilettos to hormones, who is running your show this week?

• 🩸Carrie = Follicular Phase (Days 1-13)

  • Brain buzzing, energy up. Like Carrie trying on shoes she can’t afford, you’re experimenting with ideas and personalities just for fun.

  • Social sparkle = unmatched. Time to start a project, flirt shamelessly, or just journal about your dramatic life choices.

• 🩸Samantha = Ovulation (Day 14)

  • Bold, magnetic, everyone notices you. Basically, Samantha in stilettos, owning the bar.

  • Your confidence is at its max. Ask for a promotion, go out, and go big. Don’t overthink it… you know Samantha never did.

• 🩸Charlotte = Luteal Phase (15-28)

  • Progesterone rising = your productivity is higher than Charlotte’s standards.

  • Organized, planning your life, and checking things off your to-do list… but you might also catch yourself crying over puppies for no reason.

• 🩸Miranda = Menstrual Phase (Days 1-5)

  • Energy low, sarcasm high. You are just like Miranda in a blazer.

  • Rest, snack, and remember there is no harm in canceling plans. Who has plans for nonsense anyway?

Science Minute:

Okay, so now that you understand that you aren’t crazy during certain weeks of the month, let’s dive into the science behind these phases:

The 4 Phases

1. MENSTRUAL PHASE (Days 1-5)

   • AKA the bleed phase— your uterus literally sheds as it previously prepared for pregnancy

     • Estrogen & Progesterone: Both are low, which triggers bleeding.

     • FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone): Starts to rise, signaling the ovaries to prepare new follicles.

2. FOLLICULAR PHASE (Days 1-13)

   • This phase coincides with menstruation, then continues until ovulation. Your hormones stimulate ovarian follicle growth— when an egg begins to mature to prepare for potential fertilization.

     • Estrogen: Rises as the follicle develops & signals your body to rebuild the uterine lining.

     • FSH: High levels early, then tapers down once a follicle is chosen.

     • LH (Luteinizing Hormone): Still low, but will surge at the end of this phase.

1. OVULATION PHASE (Day 14)

   • The body is ready to release that premature egg in the follicular phase, as it’s now mature. Peak fertility begins here.

     • LH: Surges dramatically, which triggers egg release.

     • FSH: Small rise, supporting ovulation.

     • Estrogen: Peaks just before ovulation, then dips.

     • Progesterone: Begins to rise after ovulation.

2. LUTEAL PHASE (Days 15-28)

   • Your uterus thickens, then waits for a fertilized egg. When no egg shows up, this is when your cycle restarts, and your menstruation starts up again.

     • Progesterone: High levels of this stabilize and thicken the endometrium.

     • Estrogen: Moderate levels support uterine lining.

     • If no pregnancy occurs: Progesterone and estrogen drop causes the lining to shed → new cycle begins.

Outsmart Your Cycle:

Ever wonder why the iconic friendship between Carrie and her three friends stayed so strong? They stayed in sync. They balanced each other out—when one felt low, the others lifted her up.

Your cycle works in a similar way. When your hormones are balanced, everything flows more smoothly. But when they’re off, symptoms can take over. That’s where cycle syncing comes in: it’s a way of eating the right foods at the right time to support your hormones as they naturally shift throughout each phase of your cycle.

PMS & Endometriosis: Understand the Difference

PMS = Premenstrual Syndrome. This syndrome causes a group of physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms that occur in the luteal phase, right before menstruation.

• Elevates risk for anxiety, causes mood swings, increases appetite, social withdrawal, and decreases concentration

• KEY DIFFERENCE: Temporary, hormone-driven symptoms.

Endometriosis = The lining of your uterus literally starts to grow outside your uterus and instead grows elsewhere.

• Causes extremely painful periods, may cause infertility, and makes intercourse painful

• KEY DIFFERENCE: Chronic disease that causes severe pain that sometimes goes beyond the period.

Why they’re often confused…

• Both cause pain and mood swings the time before menstruation

• Share symptoms of bloating, fatigue, and anxiety

• Normalization of pain

Company Spotlight - IH Recomendations

Inside Health Recommends: Natural Cycles 🩸

If you are looking for a non-hormonal, cycle-smart birth control method… Natural Cycles might be for you!

Using your daily temperature to track fertile (“red”) and non-fertile (“green”) days, the application helps you understand your body while avoiding hormone fluctuations.

Do This, Not That:

Follicular Phase (Carrie energy)

• Do: Brainstorm, tackle new projects, and join group discussions.

• Not That: Don’t overcommit

Ovulation (Samantha energy)

• Do: Speak up in class, pitch ideas, and network.

• Not That: Don’t overthink feedback

Luteal Phase (Charlotte energy)

• Do: Organize notes, create study schedules, and prep for exams.

• Not That: Don’t stress over perfection

Menstrual Phase (Miranda energy)

• Do: Focus on solo work, review old material, and rest when needed.

• Not That: Don’t schedule intense group work, spend your energy wisely.

From the Founder:

Thanks for reading this weeks newsletter! Here is my final take: