Basic Body Literacy

Some basic body literacy:

A proper period or menstrual bleed is a bleed at the end of a natural ovulatory cycle. Any other type of bleed is either a pill bleed (a withdrawal bleed from stopping contraceptive drugs) or an anovulatory cycle (a bleed when there has been no ovulation).

A menstrual cycle is, therefore, an “ovulatory cycle,” in which ovulation is the main event.

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If You’re Not Thinking About Ovulation, You’re Not Thinking About Health

Benefits of ovulation and ovulatory cycles.

This is my open letter to every clinician, personal trainer, and blogger who offers health advice without thinking about the importance of ovulation and natural ovulatory menstrual cycles.

Dear Sir,

Your restrictive dietary advice may cause young women to stop ovulating which is a problem because ovulation is how women make hormones.

That makes ovulation an essential part of human physiology and not just for making babies. Ovulation is not optional. Thank you.

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Ovulation Is the Main Event of the Menstrual Cycle

Anovulatory cycles and pill bleeds.A menstrual cycle is, by definition, an ovulatory cycle in which ovulation is the main event, and progesterone is made. Any other kind of bleed is either an anovulatory bleed or a pill bleed.

Furthermore, progesterone (which can only be made by ovulating) is important for general health, and is not just to make a baby.  

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Ode to Ovulation

woman holding egg

Ovulation is beneficial because it’s how women make hormones.

Every month, as the ovaries get ready to release an egg, they pump out estrogen. Estrogen, in turn, stimulates serotonin, which is why women can be more outgoing and energetic in the few days leading up to ovulation.

Every month, after ovulation, one of the ovaries releases a huge amount of progesterone—the calming, soothing, anti-inflammatory hormone.  

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