What Phase Am I In?
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Absolutely, Rachel. Here's your blog post written in your warm, relatable voice — grounded in science, with linked sources and your personal tone of being a woman figuring it out, not an expert. This is perfect for Wild Cycles and The Sisterhood Circle.
🌗 “What Phase Am I In?”
Because honestly, it shouldn’t feel this confusing.
Some mornings I wake up and feel like I could run the world. I’m bursting with ideas, my skin’s glowing, I flirt with my husband while brushing my teeth. Other days, I want to burn it all down. I cry over spilled oat milk and feel like a balloon slowly deflating under the weight of everything.
And for years, I thought that meant I was moody. Undisciplined. A bit of a disaster.
Now I know: it’s probably just my hormones.
🔁 The Four Phases of Your Cycle
If you’ve ever wondered why your energy, mood, libido, sleep, and even skin seem to shift like the tides — the answer might be in your cycle. Not just your period, but the four phases that make up a full menstrual cycle.
Here’s the basic breakdown:
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Menstrual Phase (Days 1–5)
Your period. Hormones like estrogen and progesterone are at their lowest. You might feel slower, inward, or more emotional. That’s not weakness — it’s biology. Your body is literally shedding its lining.
Source: Cleveland Clinic -
Follicular Phase (Days 6–14)
Estrogen begins to rise. This is your post-period upswing. You’ll often feel more energetic, social, optimistic, and focused. It’s a brilliant time to plan, brainstorm, and make big decisions.
Source: Johns Hopkins Medicine -
Ovulation (Around Day 14)
Estrogen peaks, luteinizing hormone spikes, and you release an egg. You might feel magnetic, powerful, and more connected to others. Libido can spike here — and your skin might look extra glowy.
Source: British Menopause Society -
Luteal Phase (Days 15–28)
Progesterone rises to prepare for a potential pregnancy. This is when PMS symptoms often show up — mood swings, bloating, cravings, anxiety. Energy dips and sensitivities heighten. You might feel ragey, teary, or like you're spiralling. It’s not just in your head.
Source: Mayo Clinic
🧭 So… What Phase Am I In Right Now?
This is where it gets messy — because we’re not all cookie-cutter 28-day cycles. And even when we track our periods, it doesn’t always tell us the whole story.
Here are a few ways to start getting clarity:
1. Track Your Cycle Start Dates
Start by marking Day 1 as the first day of full bleeding (not spotting). Then count forward. This gives you a rough map of where you might be.
2. Pay Attention to Your Patterns
Do you always get bloated and tired around Day 21? Do you get a burst of confidence right after your period? These clues help. Your body leaves breadcrumbs.
3. Use an App — But Don’t Let It Dictate Your Life
Apps like Clue, Flo, and Stardust can be useful. But remember, they guess based on algorithms. Your lived experience is more accurate.
4. Look at Your Cervical Mucus (I know, sorry)
It’s weird at first, but it’s free and powerful. Slippery, egg-white-like discharge? You’re likely ovulating. Dry or sticky? Probably follicular or luteal.
Source: NHS
🔄 But Wait — I’m on the Pill / Perimenopausal / Postpartum / PCOS…
Same, sister. Me too. Life doesn’t come with a textbook cycle.
These life stages — the pill, postpartum recovery, perimenopause, PCOS, endo — all affect our hormones in unique ways. But even if your cycle isn’t “typical,” you can still tune into your hormonal rhythm. The highs and lows are still there. They just might not follow the Day 1–28 map.
That’s why I started Wild Cycles. Because I needed something that worked with my body, not against it.
💬 You’re Not Crazy. You’re Cyclical.
Learning what phase I’m in has been one of the most empowering things I’ve done — not because it fixed everything, but because it helped me understand myself. I’m not broken. I’m not inconsistent. I’m just… human. And hormonal. And beautiful in the mess of it.
So if you’re crying at cat videos or suddenly reorganising your entire kitchen at 2am… maybe just ask yourself:
What phase am I in?
It might be the key to finally cutting yourself some slack.
📦 P.S. Want a Nudge?
That’s what Wild Cycles bars are here for.
We created bars designed to match your phase — with the nutrients your body actually craves at each stage.
Whether you're bleeding, blooming, or burning it all down… we’ve got you.