Menstrual cycle: understanding the phases and living better with it

What we cover in this article

1. What is the menstrual cycle?
   
   

2. The 4 phases of the cycle in detail
   
   

3. What women feel at each phase
   
   

4. Listening to your cycle to better know yourself
   
   

5. Signs of an unbalanced cycle
   
   

6. Isis Superfood product focus
   
   

7. Frequently asked questions
   
   

8. Conclusion

What is the menstrual cycle?

The menstrual cycle is a natural process that reflects overall health. It lasts on average 28 days, although this duration can vary from 21 to 35. Each cycle is a hormonal choreography mainly orchestrated by estrogen, progesterone, FSH (Follicle-stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone). These fluctuations do not only act on the ovaries: they also influence mood, energy, digestion, sleep, and even mental clarity.

The 4 phases of the cycle in detail

🌑 Menstrual phase (Day 1 to Day 5)

The body sheds the endometrium. Hormone levels are at their lowest. Fatigue, pain, and need to withdraw are common.

🌱 Follicular phase (Day 6 to Day 13)

Estrogens rise. Energy returns, concentration increases, and the desire to move too. It’s a good time to start new projects.

🔥 Ovulation (Day 14 to Day 16)

This is the period of maximum fertility. The estrogen peak stimulates libido, mental clarity, confidence. Some women feel "at the peak of their form."

🌘 Luteal phase (Day 17 to Day 28)

Progesterone predominates. If balanced, it is a calm and focused period. If unbalanced, irritability, pain, or fatigue may appear (PMS).

What women feel at each phase

Listening to your cycle to better know yourself

Living your cycle better is not just about relieving it — it is also listen to it as a guide.

But why track your cycle?

The body sends valuable signals. Keeping a journal or using a cycle app allows you to:

• spot high-energy days vs introspective days
  
  

• anticipate physical or emotional symptoms
  
  

• adjust your rhythm (social, professional, sports)
  
  

Practical tools

• Cycle journal : note your energy, emotions, sensations every day
  
  

• Sympto-thermal method : basal temperature, cervical mucus
  
  

• Tracking applications : useful, but to be combined with listening to the body
  
  

What is it for?

• Understanding your reactions
  
  

• Anticipating sensitive days
  
  

• Strengthening self-confidence

• Adjusting diet, routines, schedule
  

This type of observation can truly transform the relationship with the body. The cycle becomes an inner compass, and not an obstacle.

Symptoms not to ignore:

• Intense or disabling menstrual pain
  
  

• Very short cycles (<21 days) or very long (>35 days)
  
  

• Very heavy or absent periods
  
  

• Extreme fatigue or marked mood swings in the luteal phase
  
  

• Bleeding between periods
  
  

• Hot flashes before age 40
  
  

Possible causes

• Excess estrogen (estrogen dominance)
  
  

• Progesterone decrease (often after age 35)
  
  

• Chronic inflammation

• Disorders like endometriosis, PCOS, fibroids, adenomyosis
  

When to consult?

If symptoms disrupt daily life or become recurrent, medical advice is essential.
Natural solutions can provide great relief, but they never replace a diagnosis.

Isis Superfood solutions

Comfy Cycle
→ Lemon balm, magnesium, evening primrose, saffron, B6: menstrual comfort and emotional balance

Feminine Balance
→ Chaste tree, shatavari, zinc, B9: natural hormonal support

Happy Moon
→ Serum with soothing essential oils: relieves pain locally

Frequently asked questions

Is a 35-day cycle normal?
→ Yes, as long as it remains regular and without abnormal symptoms.

Why are some phases of the cycle more emotionally sensitive?
→ Hormonal fluctuations directly impact brain chemistry. This is not imaginary but physiological.

Should periods hurt?
→ No. Feeling them is normal. But pain is a warning signal.

In conclusion

The menstrual cycle is not a minor detail of women's health: it is a pillar. Learning to decode it, support it, and honor it allows you to reconnect with your body, adapt your rhythm, and prevent imbalances before they set in.

Our sources

“A good little tool to get to know yourself a bit better”: a qualitative study on users’ experiences of app-supported menstrual tracking in Europe

Menstrual cycle data ‘underused’ and should be on health records, experts say