You Have Been Lied to About the Menstrual Cycle
The follicular phase is a phase of low estrogen, not high, and the luteal phase is often a phase of estrogen dominance.
It’s absurd how misinformed most women are about their menstrual cycle. And it’s not these women’s fault. Factual information about how the female body works is harder to come across than one might anticipate.
When we talk about the menstrual cycle, there is an accepted dogma that insists that the follicular phase (the phase starting at the menstrual cycle and lasting up until ovulation) is a phase of high estrogen, with the luteal phase (the phase after ovulation up until the bleed) being a phase of high progesterone. I think every woman has seen the menstrual cycle graph that looks something like this:
These graphs always clearly depict estrogen levels decreasing after ovulation and progesterone levels rising.
Most women feel their worst after ovulation, in the luteal phase. Premenstrual symptoms such as painful breasts, nausea, mood swings, worsening of acne and water retention are almost universally experienced in the luteal phase.
This has led many women to believe that progesterone is the “bad guy.” Even most mainstream “health education” sources blame progesterone for causing PMS.
“Changes in hormone levels are thought to be the main cause of PMS/PMT. More specifically, it is the decline in oestrogen and rise in progesterone for up to two weeks before the period starts.”1
“The change in the level of progesterone as you approach your period may cause symptoms of PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome), such as: mood swings, irritability, anxiety, fatigue, bloating, tender breasts, headaches, breakouts or spots, changes in appetite, changes in sex drive.” 2
In reality, progesterone takes the blame for what estrogen does.
The mainstream menstrual cycle graph reminds me of the one South Park episode where everyone realizes that the food pyramid is upside-down. Because the menstrual cycle graph is… upside down.