Menstrual cycle
The monthly process your body goes through as it prepares for a possible pregnancy. It isn't just the days you're bleeding — the whole cycle runs from the first day of one period to the day before the next.
Cycle words, made simple
You don't need a biology degree to understand your own body. These are the terms worth knowing as you learn your rhythm.
Period / menstruation
The part of your cycle when the uterus sheds its lining, causing menstrual bleeding. This is Day 1 of your cycle.
Cycle length
The number of days from the first day of one period to the first day of the next. A 28-day cycle is often used as an average, but your normal may be shorter or longer — and it can vary from month to month.
Period length
The number of days your bleeding lasts. Five days is a common average, but your period can be shorter or longer.
Follicular phase
The first part of your cycle, starting on Day 1 of your period and continuing until ovulation. Estrogen generally rises during this phase as an egg develops — and many people notice their energy rising with it.
Ovulation
When an egg is released from one of your ovaries. In a typical 28-day cycle this happens around the middle, but the exact timing varies considerably from person to person.
Luteal phase
The part of your cycle after ovulation and before your next period. Progesterone rises after ovulation and then falls if pregnancy doesn't occur — this is often when energy and mood can dip.
Estrogen
A group of hormones involved in your menstrual cycle, including the development of an egg and changes to the uterine lining. Your estrogen levels change throughout the month.
Progesterone
A hormone that rises after ovulation and helps prepare and maintain your uterine lining for a possible pregnancy.
PMS — Premenstrual syndrome
A collection of physical and emotional symptoms some people experience before their period — bloating, breast tenderness, tiredness, irritability, mood changes and cravings. You may experience some, none, or different ones each month.
Fertile window
The days around ovulation when pregnancy is more likely if sperm and an egg meet. The timing can vary, so a calendar prediction shouldn't be treated as reliable contraception.
Libido
Sexual desire or interest. Your libido can change throughout the cycle — but there is no universal schedule you're meant to follow.
Cervical mucus
Fluid produced by your cervix that changes throughout the cycle. It can become thinner and more slippery around ovulation — one of the signs some people use to understand where they are.
Cycle variability
Your cycle won't always follow a perfect 28-day pattern. Stress, illness, travel, sleep, changes in weight, contraception and many other factors can affect your timing.
Cramping
Pain or discomfort caused by contractions of your uterus during menstruation. You may experience significant cramps, very mild ones, or none at all.
Bloating
A feeling of fullness, swelling or abdominal discomfort that some people experience around their period or at other points in their cycle.
Cycle awareness
Understanding where you are in your menstrual cycle and recognising that hormonal and physical changes may affect how you feel — without assuming the cycle explains everything about you.