Introduction to your Cycle: Definitions & Common Irregularities
I’m excited for you to be here to officially start this journey! I am SO passionate about knowing your body and optimizing it in natural ways (I could get on a soap box for hours about artificial hormones and ‘quick fixes’ that make things worse but I digress for now).
To start, I just want to break things down for you so we are on the same page with words, definitions, and other relevant phrases going forward. After speaking with an RN colleague of mine, she actually corrected quite a few mis-definitions I had so that’s why I want to alleviate any confusion there may be for you as well!
ALSO: I AM NOT A DOCTOR OR NURSE. I HAVE NO QUALIFICATIONS MEDICALLY NOR SHOULD ANYTHING I SAY BE TAKEN AS MEDICAL ADVICE! I AM NOT A PERSONAL TRAINER OR A DIETICIAN EITHER – SAME THING APPLIES! ANYTHING I STATE WILL BE REFERENCED TO WHERE I FOUND THE INFORMATION OR IS STRICTLY BASED ON MY OWN EXPERIENCE BUT MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE TO ALL READERS DUE TO VARYING CIRCUMSTANCES!
Ok, let’s dive in!
What is a cycle?
A cycle is the time from the start of a woman’s period until the day before the start of her next period. Typically it is 28 days in length though it can vary from woman to woman.
Many people think the period is the “main event” of the cycle when, in reality, it is ovulation. There are 4 stages within the cycle: Menstruation, Follicular, Ovulation, and Luteal. In my research, I have found some sources that refer to the “Follicular” phase as including menstruation.
For the purposes of continuity of this information, I will refer to them separately; that is, menstruation is a period and the Follicular phase is the time from the end of menstruation until ovulation begins.
What is an irregularity?
Irregularities, I THOUGHT were things like PCOS or cysts. HOWEVER, I came to find out it is actually quite a bit simpler:
Irregularities are defined as cycles with no CONSISTENT length. Nothing is “wrong” with the body or cycle but rather the woman is just sensitive to life’s circumstances (stress, diet, exercise, etc.)
An important note is that, while mentioned above that the average cycle is 28 days, you can still have a “regular” cycle if yours is closer to 25 or 32 days. 28 days is the average for all women but your personal average may vary. It is still considered a regular cycle if it does not vary often from your “normal.”
Please note that the different conditions listed below can ONLY be diagnosed by a doctor or licensed medical professional. For the purposes of this course, I will be speaking in terms of an average 28-day cycle. While I know this is not the norm for many if not most women, the detail required for every specific set of circumstances would bog down the overall purpose of this week. If you suspect you have PCOS, cysts, or any other mentioned condition throughout this course, please speak with your doctor. DO NOT SELF DIAGNOS/TREAT!
Different types of conditions?
PCOS = Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is marked by:
-Irregular cycles
-Painful periods
-A lack of your period for months
-Inability to become pregnant
*REMEMBER, THIS MUST BE DIAGNOSED BY A DOCTOR*
Cysts = a pocket of fluid that can form, often around the ovary. It can rupture and be extremely painful!
Pregnancy / Postpartum = the time during formation of or after having a baby!
-Considered irregularities because no period is had for months
-You’re body is essentially learning how to have a cycle again which can lead to inconsistent periods once they do return
-Periods may not return for a while though this does vary based on factors such as if Mom is breastfeeding, how much, genetics, etc.
PID = Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
-Infection
-Can cause irregularities
-Antibiotics to resolve
What is NFP and what does it have to do with me?
NFP = Natural Family Planning (and it’s not just for Catholics!)
Ok, so one thing I didn’t mention about myself – I am Catholic. However, my belief in NFP comes from scientific fact! Things I know about contraception and NFP outside of a religious lens:
Types of contraceptives and their effectiveness (according to plannedparenthood.org) are as follows: “The Pill” – 99% when used perfectly, 93% with average accuracy; IUD 99%; Implant 99%
A note: I use statistics from Planned Parenthood because they are culturally seen as advocates for preventing pregnancy and left-leaning. Because of this, I wanted to use their statistic as it closely aligns with other sources but alleviates the threat of naysayers thinking that I am only using sources that support my own point/opinion.
NFP effectiveness (according to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)): 99% when used perfectly, 93% with average accuracy (same as the pill)
HOWEVER:
Risks of various contraceptives (beyond those that your period also causes) include but are not limited to:
-Up to 70% increased risk for depression
-3-9 times higher blood clotting risk
-Increased risk of infection, PID, ectopic pregnancy, cyst formation
-Likely to stop periods altogether
-Significantly decreased sex drive
(pulled from ​“The Happy Girl’s Guide to Being Whole: What You Never Knew About Your Natural Body” by: Teresa Kenney, WHNP​ – I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!!!!!!)
Risks of NFP: –
I rest my case. And, again, my goal here is not to shame anyone on birth control. Rather, it is to explain why I am SO HAPPY you are here to better understand your body!
Birth control is prescribed for dozens of things as “treatment” when, in reality, it treats the symptoms, not the issues themselves. That is why when you come off birth control, the problem is not better. Instead, if you feel you have an irregularity in your cycle, I would encourage you to speak with your doctor and demand answers! I believe most healthcare professionals are the victims of simply not knowing.
Knowledge on women’s health is a new area of study that is just coming to the forefront because us ladies are sick of being placated by false information or brushed off instead of seen, heard, and helped!
Ok *step down* I’m off my soap box.
But, seriously, this is what NFP and knowing your cycle has to do with you – EVERYTHING!
