How to recognise your period when you don’t get a period.
When I ask people how they track their menstrual cycle, I am often met with the response of '“oh I just track my periods…”
…well, what if you don’t have a period?
Amenorrhea (loss of your regular bleed) can result from continued use of hormonal contraception, maybe your bleed had disappeared because you’re suffering from an illness, or maybe you don’t have enough body fat to survive pregnancy and your body shuts down the possibility of pro-creation. Whatever the reason, just because you don’t physically bleed, it doesn’t mean you don’t have a menstrual phase.
You may notice that as you shift from the end of your luteal phase into your menstrual phase you experience what we refer to as an ‘airport day’; a day of transitioning from one place to the next and quite easily defined as such. A mildly stressful and chaotic experience to say the least! After this day has passed (and yes it is usually the exact same day every cycle) I tend to feel as though I have arrived somewhere quite peaceful, and that is when I know, even without the arrival of a period, that I am in my menstrual phase.
Key things to look out for that are totally normal:
Low energy / sluggishness
Feeling cold (your core temperature hits its lowest point during this phase)
Feeling bloated or heavier than usual
Additional hunger / cravings
Feeling like staying home rather than going out and being a social butterfly
Physical aches & pains (particularly if you’ve been training regularly in your luteal phase)
Lack of self-confidence
Feeling worn out more quickly than usual
Desire to reflect more & communicate less
You may also notice that you sweat less and don’t smell if you do!
Key things to note that indicate you may be pushing it too far:
Excessive irritability towards those close to you or co-workers
Feeling lost & without purpose
Anxiety and/or overwhelm
Brain fog or forgetfulness
Sudden onset of illness or injury
Mad cravings for crappy food
Emotional outbursts
It’s really important that you take time to rest whilst on your period, because it sets the stage for your next upcoming cycle. If you tend to suffer with cravings post-period, it’s likely you didn’t prioritise rest and nourish your body adequately. I know it’s very tempting to push through the brain fog and physical sluggishness that accompanies this phase, and the thought of eating more whilst doing less fills many people with weight gain dread*, but it’s not the case; your body expects and requires rest because your hormones levels are at their lowest. Please do not train excessively during your menstrual phase. Please do not also think you are the exception to a biological rule in this regard.
I hope you find these tips and hints useful in tracking and understanding your cycle and natural rhythms. Feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions!
*please note that water retention is normal during your menstrual phase and therefore although you may experience short-term weight gain and feel 'bigger', it’s not actually body fat you've acquired overnight and it will drop off as your hormone levels rise again.