Can your menstrual cycle change your life for the better? It can.
Can periods change the world for good? They will.
In this article I will explain what Cycle Syncing is, where it comes from, and why it is so valuable.
What is it?
Cycle Syncing is the practice of lining a woman's life with the traits of her menstrual phases. These phrases refer to the hormonal shifts that a woman with a menstrual cycle experiences each month. In addition to her fertility, these hormonal shifts are believed to have an emotional, cognitive, and physical effect on her daily experience.
People who support this strategy for life report that women who follow these changes and incorporate the information that they provide into their daily decisions are able to find success with greater ease in their personal, social, and professional lives. They also suggest that these practices are capable of reducing the risk of burnout and/or injury.
The practice of living in alignment with the menstrual cycle goes by different names, but is most popularly referred to as Cycle Syncing. This term was popularized by Alesa Vetty, Author of the books The Woman Code and In the Flo, as well as the brain behind the cycle tracking app MyFlow, which also encourages women to follow the same concept. She claims that this practice is one that has eliminated her own PCOS symptoms.
While this belief was popularized by Alesa Vetty, many women's health professionals and trainers have written and spoken on the subject. Recently, the US women's soccer team credited training with their menstrual cycles in mind as a key ingredient to their success.
How does Cycle Syncing it work?
The examples that I am about to give are only the basics for Cycle Syncing but should provide beginners level understanding of this practice.
The menstrual cycle is divided into two sections:
Outward focused
Inward focused
Also taken into account are the measurable temperature shifts which occur in the menstrual cycle:
Cooler in the first half of their cycle
Warmer in the second
It is then further divided into four phases:
Luteal
Menstrual
Follicular
Ovulation
These phases get their name from what is happening in the body at each stage to complete a full Menstrual Cycle. It is believed that each phase contains qualities that a woman, and those around her, may notice are turned up or down depending on the time of the month.
Example:
Menstrual Phase
In this phase a woman may focus on letting go of things which have run their course and imagine something new and better taking their place. She will prioritize sleep and warm nourishing foods. She will be intentional about only taking on things that she knows she can handle without pushing herself too hard. She will also opt for conversations and activities that give more than they take from her emotions and energy.
Ovulatory Phase
In contrast, in this phase she may focus on connection, and networking. She will prioritize building her community through acts and conversations that may be intimidating. She will go for the risks because her confidence is high and pushes herself harder in every area of life; from her job, to her social life, to her time at the gym. She will still intentionally eat nourishing foods, but they may trend towards being lighter and cooler than other times. She will remember that it is unwise to make long term commitments because this energy will likely ebb and flow in time. She knows that right now is the time to take the bull by the horns and have a great time doing so!
Fact or fiction?
As mentioned previously, there are many who have sung the praises of Cycle Syncing, but is it real, or is it just another fad that will come and go with little to no backing? That depends on your perspective. This article by Forbes said it well: “ While there aren’t currently scientific studies around cycle syncing, studies do show that hormone fluctuations affect energy, mood, appetite and sleep.”
As medical science has struggled to see women's health as a valid study, and has often excluded women with menstrual cycles from studies. It has been up to the women with a period to make sense of the research that does exist and the information they gather from their own bodies. Much of the information around cycle syncing has been developed as one woman has told another what she has learned and what is working for her. As the period goes more public, we can expect the research to expand on this topic as well.
If you want to learn why women have been understudied, this article published by the University of Melbourne is a great place to start.
Fact or theory
It is for these reasons that I prefer to call this a theory. While we do have enough evidence both scientific and anecdotal to say that something is truly happening in our body’s that is affecting our everyday experience, we need more time and research to truly understand what is happening. I personally believe it is a beneficial piece of information that can enrich people's lives. I believe this because following Cycle Syncing practices gave me a framework to understand my body and help her heal when my period gave me extreme symptoms. I am thankful for this information because, at the time, I was not being taken seriously or getting the help I needed from my doctor. I have also had the privilege of working with women as they learn to incorporate an understanding of their body’s into their lives and see measurable change.
Balance
Rather than Syncing one's entire life up to their period (which I have tried), or disregarding it entirely, I believe and I advocate for a lifestyle of Menstrual Cycle awareness, or MCA for short. Use the information you learn from your rhythms to inform your daily decisions, much like the way you may look at the weather when deciding what to wear that day. I have experienced the benefits of this approach in my own life. Benefits which include:
Feeling a deeper connection with my body.
Reducing and eliminating unwanted menstrual symptoms.
Grace for myself and others.
Feeling inflow more often: less friction in my personal life, social life, and career.
Developing more consistent and sustainable habits.
Finding it easier to prioritize nourishment in my life.
Understanding the factors contributing to the way that I feel.
Potential issues
This practice can be presented in a one size fits all fashion which does not account for the individual experience. For instance, many women do report feeling their best in their ovulatory phase, some actually find that they struggle the most during that time. This can make people feel broken rather than known. We must remember to simply use the Cycle Syncing information as a road map rather than rules and see our own experience as valid information as well.
Have you ever heard someone say something to the toon of “She's just PMSing”
To explain or dismiss a woman's behavior, opinions, or requests? This is a way that society has deemed women unreasonable based on a symptom that SOMETIMES can occur in ONE of the phases of her menstrual cycle. It is true that at times the PMS mood can be strong and even problematic, but that should not be normal! If a menstrual cycle symptom at any point becomes difficult to manage causing more harm than good in the life of a woman and those around her, then this is a sign that something has gone wrong and needs to be addressed. However, when this statement is used to discount or diminish a woman's valid expression, it is sexist and should not be acceptable.
Likewise, a woman should not excuse bad behavior based on the time of the month but use this information in order to act wisely in her life and interactions.
A benefit to society
A woman's menstrual cycle not only has the ability to benefit and enrich her own life, but holds the capacity to change society for the better. When women's cyclical rhythms are honored she is guided through times of productivity and rest, socializing and seclusion, joy and morning. In our culture of constant production, advancement, and avoidance of pain at all costs, the Menstrual Cycle aware woman provides an open invitation to the world around her to find balance. As she practices self awareness and follows her inner rhythms, she develops the capacity for a balanced existence, and guides society closer to wholeness. Put simply, The menstrual woman may hold a key to change that our society desperately needs.
Summery
Cycle Syncing is the practice of following the hormonal changes that happen in a woman's menstrual cycle and using that information to determine the things that she will be doing in that particular phase that she is in. Some of these practices are well researched but others have not been scientifically validated. Many women including myself have experienced benefits from living in a MCA way. I believe that it is best to use this information as a piece of the puzzle to your wellness journey and advocate for women to educate themselves on their inner working for their own benefit and for the good of society.
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