The period of the menstrual cycle does not affect all women equally. In some cases, it’s little more annoying than a simple routine. For other women, however, it represents a real torture. However, there are a few things to be aware of. Why do we cry when we have menstruation?

The menstrual cycle starts from puberty or adolescence up to the woman’s 40 years of age. Throughout this cycle, female hormones travel on a roller coaster. Consequently, we shouldn’t be frightened if we find ourselves crying when we have menstruation. In this article we tell you what this impulse is due to.

For many women, the menstrual cycle is a routine; for others, a torture. At school, we are given little information to help us understand why we cry when we menstruate. Today, however, things are starting to change.

Likewise, there is also no mention of regular or irregular cycles, polycystic ovary, endometriosis or PMS. The last four are the circumstances we need to take into account if we want to know why we cry when we have menstruation. However, even in a regular and uneven cycle, emotional fluctuations can occur.

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Stages of the menstrual cycle

The menstrual cycle consists of three phases: follicular, ovulatory and luteal. The beginning is marked by the first day of menstrual bleeding. Usually, menstruation lasts five or seven days, but can extend up to twelve days, in some exceptional cases.

In the first phase, the follicular phase, the brain produces a greater amount of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). This is the beginning of the whole process. FSH promotes the maturation of eggs in the ovary, which begins to release estrogen in order to prepare the endometrium or the wall of the uterus for the possible gestation of an embryo.

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Subsequently, the ovulatory phase begins, in which estrogen levels increase, with the aim of producing the luteinizing hormone (LH), responsible for selecting and releasing the most mature egg. This phenomenon occurs approximately in the middle of the cycle.

The freed egg moves from the uterine tubes, directed towards the uterus. The egg remains active for 24 hours. If spermatozoa approach, select the most suitable for fertilization. If not, it dissolves.

The third phase is the luteal phase, which occurs during the last twelve days of the cycle. Inside the ovary, the egg follicle produces progesterone at high levels, which is sent to the uterus in case of fertilization. Excess estrogen is one factor that can answer the question of why we cry when we have menstruation.

At this stage, the body swells, the breasts are extremely sensitive and a change in mood occurs. Since fertilization does not occur most of the time, the follicle contracts and estrogen and progesterone levels decrease.

One of the issues to be aware of is the fact that the lining of the uterus is not needed because the body discards it through menstrual bleeding.

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Why do we cry when we have menstruation?

Throughout the ovulation cycle, women experience constant changes in their hormone levels during their fertile phase.

Above all, it is in the luteal phase that mood fluctuations, euphoria and irritability appear. Later, during the follicular phase, it is common to suffer from intense abdominal pain, fatigue and susceptibility.

The feeling of agitation, suffocation, sadness or oppression that occurs overnight are symptoms that, month after month, experienced by three out of four women. These changes are directly associated with the relationship between estrogen and brain activity. Things are this simple way.

In practice, there is a connection between estrogen, progesterone and the brain. During the premenstrual phase, the fluctuation of both hormones disrupts the balance that keeps the brain in a “state of alert”.

In this way, the mind finds itself sunk in a kind of fog, which can get worse in cases of high stress . And this is how feelings of melancholy and sadness and episodes of crying appear. In turn, some diseases such as endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome can cause profound depression during this phase.

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The bleeding phase

This symptom disappears during the menstrual bleeding phase, since estrogen increases the release of endorphins, which, in turn, causes immediate emotional well-being. In fact, the sensation achieved during bleeding is often a source of inspiration for many women.

Bottom line, if you didn’t know why we cry when we menstruate, perhaps your doubts have now dissipated. In fact,  the greatest feeling of heaviness occurs before the actual menstruation; in other words, in the form of PMS. When this syndrome prevents you from following a proper routine, you may need to see a specialist.

To prevent these difficult days from taking you by surprise, you can help your brain by adopting a healthy diet . Likewise, activities like yoga or meditation will keep you alert.