Instead of feeling trapped by your changing hormones, however, it is possible to use a scientific understanding of the way hormones interact and fluctuate throughout your menstrual cycle to your advantage, giving you more control over your life. Here is how.
DAYS 1-5 MENSTRUATION
Start a diet today Progesterone, the “mothering” hormone is at its lowest ebb. A study by Tufts University, Massachusetts, indicated that women eat 12% less per day at this point in their cycle than during the last half, when appetite is boosted so that the body can better sustain a healthy pregnancy.
Start work on that Man Booker contender According to the women’s health guru Dr Christiane Northrup, the brain’s creative talents are at their peak at the beginning of the menstrual cycle, particularly writing skills.
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Brush your teeth more often The glucose content in saliva increases as much as ninefold early in your cycle. This increases the concentration in the mouth of bacteria that can cause tooth and gum decay. You don’t want to end up going to the dentist now, as low oestrogen levels mean a low pain threshold (the highest pain threshold is during days 12-14).
Breathe easy If you suffer from asthma, be especially careful now. A report published in the British Medical Journal found a fourfold increase in asthma-related admissions to accident-and-emergency departments at American hospitals among non-pregnant adult women just before and during menstruation. This is thought to have been caused by changes in oestrogen levels.
DAYS 6-13 OESTROGEN AND TESTOSTERONE RISING
Give up smoking If you are trying to quit, now is the best time. Increasing oestrogen levels mean you will have fewer withdrawal symptoms. Day 13, when oestrogen peaks, is the easiest day to stop.
Apply for a new job High levels of oestrogen and testosterone have been connected to high confidence. According to Dr Rosemarie Krug, a German psychophysiologist, women with peaking oestrogen levels are confident in their abilities, unusually quick to come up with the answers to problem-solving tests and reluctant to depend on others for help.
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Say no to drugs Now is not the time to experiment with cocaine or amphetamines. One American study revealed that women are more likely to get addicted to drugs at a high-oestrogen time of month. This is due to the way oestrogen influences the amount of dopamine (the brain’s happy chemical) released in response to addictive substances.
Yes, yes, yes! Day 13 is when libido is at an all-time high, thanks to a combination of rocketing oestrogen and testosterone.
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DAY 14 OVULATION
Leave your make-up bag at home Today, you’re officially irresistible, but only if you show the world your “real” face. Researchers at the University of St Andrews photographed female students over a month, monitoring levels of oestrogen and progesterone; a panel was then asked to rate the photos by attractiveness. Women were discovered to be most attractive during ovulation. However, the study found that women who wore make-up “masked” oestrogen’s impact.
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Don’t go speed-dating High oestrogen levels mean your judgment could be impaired. According to another study done at the University of St Andrews, when a woman is ovulating, she is more likely to prefer men with masculine features, including large chins and low, bushy eyebrows; during less fertile times, she will choose someone more feminine-looking, with a smaller chin and thinner eyebrows.
“In the animal kingdom, it is well known that exaggerated masculinity signals a good, healthy immune system,” says David Perrett, professor of psychology at the university. “We predicted that women would prefer masculine traits when they were most fertile, so they could pass on a healthy immune system to their children, and that is what we found.”
A bad day for running a marathon During ovulation, women are three times more likely to hurt themselves. According to research carried out at the University of Michigan, high oestrogen levels create “laxity” in the knee ligament, which increases the risk of injury.
DAYS 15-22 PROGESTERONE RISING
Exercise Working out feels easier and burns up to 30% more fat until day 26, according to a study published in Australasian Science magazine. The author, Stephen Luntz, says: “The combination of oestrogen and progesterone during this phase promotes the use of body fat as energy.”
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Cancel the pub-quiz night Ovulation releases progesterone, which, according to the author Dr Elizabeth Vliet, causes a delay in word recall and verbal responses.
Migraine alert A drop in oestrogen is thought to increase the likelihood of migraines.
Leave the credit cards at home Marketing gurus are getting wise to the impact progesterone has on women’s shopping habits — any advert featuring puppies, pink fluffy blankets and mewling infants is banking on the fact that progesterone-dulled female shoppers are easy targets.
DAYS 23-27 ALL HORMONE LEVELS FALLING
Hide the alarm clock Declining oestrogen levels can trigger the production of noradrenaline, a hormone that can promote wakefulness.
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Set the video for Little Britain One study suggests that women prefer watching comedies from now until the end of menstruation, probably to boost their mood and distract them from physical discomfort.
Avoid the deli counter Progesterone is known to boost cravings for salty, sugary and fatty food, and food cravings now are more intense than at other times.
Stay away from Starbucks Caffeine exacerbates premenstrual syndrome (PMS). In one study, women who drank just one cup of coffee per day increased their risk of developing PMS by 30%.
DAY 28 HORMONES REACH ROCK BOTTOM
Aim a deadly stiletto at your ex Oestrogen is at an all-time low today, which means that testosterone comes into its own.
Steer clear of karaoke No matter how brilliant you think you are, today is not the day to sing in public. The University of Sheffield has studied the influence of sex hormones on the female singing voice. Inability to reach high notes, loss of vocal flexibility and temporary hoarseness were all found to affect female singers from day 26 until the first day of menstruation. Fluid retention leads to a swelling of the vocal cords, which causes the problems. In the past, in some European opera houses, women were given “respect days” to excuse them from singing during premenstrual and menstrual periods.
Shhhhh A study from the University of Chicago indicates that women experience “menstrual quietude” from now until day 5, initiating fewer conversations. They also have less interest in going out to socialise. Perhaps not the best time to discuss where your relationship is going.
Further reading 28 Days by Gabrielle Lichterman (Adams Media £10.95)