How Menstrual Cycle Affects Your Brain

Unlike men, women’s bodies go through regular cycles called the menstrual cycle. This cycle is the body’s way of preparing for ovulation and possibly pregnancy. One of the most noticeable parts of this process is menstruation or the vaginal bleeding many women experience each month known as “period”.

Behind the scenes, this is all guided by a series of hormonal changes working together in harmony.

Imagine if your brain changed every week. Sounds wild, right?

Well, for women, this is exactly what happens!

Hormones like estrogen and progesterone aren’t just about fertility, they’re powerful neurochemicals that significantly change how the female brain works. As they rise and fall throughout the menstrual cycle, they create four different moods, with four distinct phases and realities, every single month!

The Overlooked Reality: Hormonal Shifts and the Female Brain

Throughout the month, a woman’s brain changes due to hormones. Estrogen and progesterone are two powerful chemicals that influence mood and brain function. As these hormones rise and fall, they create different versions of the brain. This affects how women feel and think every day. Despite this, mainstream medicine often ignores these changes.

For women, in one week, you might feel confident and full of energy. But during the next week, you may feel more tired or sensitive. These changes impact how women handle stress, solve problems, and interact with others.

1. Period (Inner Winter) – Week 1

Low estrogen and progesterone mean lower energy and focus. It’s the perfect time for rest and reflection.

Your brain is in reset mode, slow, quiet, and introspective.

2. Follicular Phase (Inner Spring) – Week 2

As estrogen rises, so does your brainpower! Creativity, motivation and optimism kick in. It’s like turning the volume up in your mind.

You’re open to new ideas, ready to start fresh projects, and eager to connect with others.

3. Ovulation Phase (Inner Summer) – Week 3

With estrogen peaking and a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH), confidence is at its highest! This is your “peak brain” moment, communication skills, problem-solving, and emotional resilience are all here. You feel unstoppable!

4. Luteal Phase (Inner Autumn) – Week 4

As progesterone rises and estrogen drops, the brain becomes more analytical and focused.

You’re in preparation mode, ready to tie up loose ends and complete tasks. However, as the phase continues, PMS can kick in, making you feel more sensitive and irritated.

By understanding how our brains shift with each cycle phase, we can better care for our mental health. Imagine the potential if society took this seriously! We could create a more supportive, informed world that helps women thrive mentally and emotionally.

Mainstream Medicine’s Blind Spot

Unfortunately, the medical field hasn’t fully caught up with this reality. Mainstream medicine tends to focus primarily on physical symptoms of menstruation like cramps and bloating. But the emotional and mental shifts that happen every month are rarely discussed.

By failing to recognize the neurological and cognitive changes caused by hormonal shifts, medicine misses the opportunity to support half of world population’s mental health. Women are often prescribed generalized solutions for anxiety, depression, or mood swings without addressing the deeper connection of these symptoms to their cycle.

For example, many women experience heightened anxiety or irritability during the luteal phase (inner autumn – week 4), but this is rarely acknowledged in mental health treatments. Imagine the possibilities for better mental health care if the medical world highlighted this knowledge and tailored approaches to women’s unique cycles.

This lack of understanding means many women don’t get the care they need. For instance, doctors may prescribe the same medication for anxiety or depression to both men and women. But for women, those symptoms can get worse at certain times in their cycle.

The Workplace Disconnect

Most Workplaces also fail to support women during their menstrual cycles. Most jobs expect women to work the same way every day, even though their energy and moods shift throughout the month. For example, women are expected to perform at the same level every day, even during times when they’re in physical pain, fatigued, or dealing with mood swings due to PMS (premenstrual syndrome) or other cycle related symptoms.

Ignoring this reality puts extra pressure on women, who may feel forced to push through difficult days. For example, during the menstrual phase (period), energy levels naturally drop, and women might experience significant discomfort or even severe pain, yet many workplaces don’t offer the option of paid leave when needed. This is why paid menstrual leave is so important, but it is still rare.

Menstrual leave gives women time off when they are in pain. However, many companies don’t offer this yet, and women feel pressured to “push through” the discomfort and irritation. Without policies like this, workplaces make it hard for women to balance their well-being and work responsibilities. Without policies that consider this, women are left to manage not only their tasks and workload but also the burden of balancing physical and mental discomfort with societal expectations.

Time to Normalize Paid Menstrual Leave

Few countries and companies have started to acknowledge this reality by offering paid menstrual leave, which allows women to take time off when they are experiencing severe period pain without penalty. Countries like have menstrual leave policies:

• Spain: first in Europe.
• Indonesia: two days per cycle.
• Japan: legal since 1947.
• South Korea: one day a month.

Moreover, few companies in the West have begun adopting similar practices. However, it’s still a long way from being a widespread solution. Such policies can reflect a deeper understanding of women’s needs and acknowledge that their work productivity is not diminished because of their biology. Implementing such policies not only supports women physically but also fosters a more supportive, inclusive work environment where women’s unique experiences are respected.

Recognizing Women’s Full Potential

Despite the huge changes that happen in women’s brains throughout the menstrual cycle, mainstream medicine often ignores this reality. This oversight leaves a gap in understanding the mental health and cognitive potential of half the population—women!

When doctors and scientists overlook the brain’s connection to hormonal shifts, they miss out on critical insights. These changes can affect how we feel, think, and react at different times of the month. It’s not just about our bodies; our minds change too.

By doing so, we can create environments that empower women to thrive both mentally and professionally, without ignoring the unique aspects of their biology. A future where the natural ups and downs of a woman’s cycle is fully understood and respected would solve enormous potential for women’s mental health, career growth, and overall well-being.

Let’s stop ignoring women’s natural biological changes and start speaking for solutions that recognize, support, and honor the full reality of being a woman.

References

Whole-brain dynamics across the menstrual cycle: the role of hormonal fluctuations and age in healthy women