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For a long time, menstruation has been treated like something we’re supposed to “just deal with.” We’re told what happens, you bleed once a month, but rarely why. And when hormones do come up, they’re often blamed for mood swings or brushed off as something mysterious and uncontrollable.

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They’re neither.

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Your menstrual cycle is a coordinated, intentional process driven by a small group of hormones that communicate constantly with your brain and reproductive organs. Understanding them doesn’t just make periods make sense but it gives you language for your body.

So let’s break it down.

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The Menstrual Cycle Is a Conversation, Not a Countdown

Your cycle isn’t just about the uterus. It starts in the brain.

The hypothalamus and pituitary gland (two key structures in the brain) send signals to the ovaries, which then release hormones that affect everything from the uterine lining to energy levels, sleep, appetite, and mood. When one part of this system shifts, the rest responds.

That’s why stress, illness, under-eating, or major life changes can affect your cycle as it’s all connected.

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Estrogen: Growth, Energy, and Preparation

Estrogen is often framed as the female hormone, but its role is very specific.

During the first half of your cycle, estrogen levels rise. Its main job is to rebuild the uterine lining after menstruation, preparing the body for a possible pregnancy. But estrogen doesn’t stop there, it also affects the brain.

Many people notice increased energy, clearer thinking, and improved mood as estrogen rises. This isn’t a coincidence. Estrogen supports neurotransmitters involved in motivation and focus, which is why the days leading up to ovulation often feel more mentally and physically “on.”

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Progesterone: Stability, Calm, and Support

Progesterone comes into play after ovulation.

Its role is to stabilize and maintain the uterine lining. If pregnancy doesn’t occur, progesterone levels fall, and that drop is what triggers menstruation.

Progesterone also has a calming effect on the nervous system. When levels are balanced, it can support better sleep and emotional regulation. When it drops too quickly or doesn’t rise enough, symptoms like anxiety, irritability, or sleep disruption can show up.

This is why the second half of the cycle often feels very different from the first; and why that difference is physiological, not personal failure.

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Luteinizing Hormone (LH): The Trigger

LH is the hormone that causes ovulation.

Midway through the cycle, a sharp rise in LH signals the ovary to release an egg. Without this surge, ovulation doesn’t happen—and without ovulation, progesterone doesn’t rise properly later in the cycle.

This matters because many menstrual issues aren’t actually about bleeding—they’re about ovulation not occurring consistently. LH is a key part of that story.

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Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH): The Starter Signal

FSH does exactly what its name suggests: it stimulates follicles in the ovaries to mature.

Each cycle, FSH helps several follicles develop, but usually only one becomes dominant and releases an egg. This process sets the entire cycle in motion, even though it often gets less attention than estrogen or progesterone.

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When Hormones Are “Off,” It’s Not Random

Painful periods, irregular cycles, missed periods, severe PMS, or symptoms like fatigue and brain fog aren’t just things to tolerate. They’re signals.

Hormonal imbalance doesn’t mean something is “wrong” with you but it often reflects stress, undernourishment, lack of sleep, chronic inflammation, or gaps in medical research that historically hasn’t centered women’s bodies.

Understanding hormones gives us a framework to ask better questions, advocate for better care, and stop normalizing suffering.

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Why This Knowledge Matters

Women’s health has long been under-researched, under-funded, and over-simplified. Teaching ourselves how our bodies actually function is not just educational, it’s necessary.

Knowing your hormones doesn’t mean you have to track every fluctuation or optimize every phase. It simply means you’re no longer disconnected from what your body is doing.

And that matters.