top of page
Logo_lovetofeel.png

How Hormones Affect Your Period and Mood

Updated: Jul 9

A simple guide to the monthly chemical shifts behind your highs, lows, and everything in between


Hormones are powerful chemical messengers. They influence nearly every part of your menstrual cycle, and they also affect how you feel, think, and respond to the world around you. If you've ever felt like your mood shifts for no clear reason throughout the month, hormones are often the reason why.


What Hormones Are Involved in the Menstrual Cycle?


Four main hormones work together throughout the menstrual cycle:

  • Estrogen

  • Progesterone

  • Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

  • Luteinising hormone (LH)


Each one plays a different role, some help the body prepare for a possible pregnancy, others help with the release of an egg, and together, they regulate everything from bleeding to energy levels to mood.


But the two that most directly affect how you feel day to day are estrogen and progesterone.


Week-by-Week: How Hormones Shift and Affect Your Mood


The menstrual cycle is often explained in four phases. Here's what typically happens during each one, and how it might affect your mood.


Week 1: Menstrual Phase (Your Period Starts)


  • Hormone levels: Estrogen and progesterone are low.

  • How you might feel: Many people feel tired, low-energy, or emotionally flat. Cramping, disrupted sleep, and general discomfort can also take a toll.

  • Why: Your body is shedding the uterine lining. Low estrogen can contribute to a drop in mood or reduced motivation.

Some people feel more withdrawn during this time, while others report a feeling of emotional clarity. It varies, but it's normal for this week to feel a bit slower or heavier emotionally.


Week 2: Follicular Phase (After Your Period)


  • Hormone levels: Estrogen begins to rise.

  • How you might feel: Energy tends to improve. You may feel more focused, motivated, and socially engaged.

  • Why: Rising estrogen helps lift mood, boost confidence, and sharpen thinking. It can also improve sleep and reduce anxiety.

This is often the phase where people feel "back to normal", both physically and mentally.


Week 3: Ovulation (Mid-Cycle)


  • Hormone levels: Estrogen peaks, then dips slightly. LH surges to trigger ovulation.

  • How you might feel: Many people feel upbeat, mentally sharp, or emotionally balanced.

  • Why: Estrogen reaches its highest point, which can have a calming and mood-boosting effect. Some also notice an increase in libido or a stronger sense of connection with others.

That said, not everyone feels amazing during ovulation. Some experience mild bloating or fatigue, especially if the hormonal drop afterward is steep.



Week 4: Luteal Phase (Before Your Period)


  • Hormone levels: Progesterone rises, then drops if there’s no pregnancy. Estrogen also dips.

  • How you might feel: This is when premenstrual symptoms (PMS) are most likely, including irritability, sadness, anxiety, mood swings, or brain fog.

  • Why: As progesterone increases, some people feel more tired or emotionally sensitive. When both estrogen and progesterone drop toward the end of this phase, it can affect the brain's chemistry, particularly serotonin, which helps regulate mood.


Why Some People Feel It More Than Others


Not everyone experiences big mood swings, and some barely notice hormonal changes at all. Others, though, may feel like they're on a rollercoaster.


You may be more sensitive to hormonal shifts if you:

  • Have a history of anxiety or depression

  • Have premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

  • Have a thyroid or hormonal condition (like PCOS)

  • Experience high stress or sleep disruption


Understanding your own pattern can help,  even if it doesn’t change the feelings, it gives you some context and control.



What Can Help Stabilise Mood?


While you can’t stop the hormonal cycle entirely (unless you’re on certain types of birth control), you can support your mood with small adjustments:


  • Sleep: Regular, good-quality sleep helps regulate mood and hormone function.

  • Nutrition: Eating regularly and avoiding blood sugar crashes (from lots of sugar or caffeine) can reduce mood swings.

  • Movement: Light to moderate exercise, even a walk, can improve mood during all phases.

  • Stress support: Breathing exercises, therapy, or journaling can help regulate your response to stress.

  • Cycle tracking: Knowing where you are in your cycle makes it easier to anticipate changes and respond more gently to what your body needs.


If mood changes are severe, or affect your quality of life, you might want to speak to a GP or hormone specialist. There are treatments available, from medication to lifestyle plans, that can make a big difference.


In Summary


  • Estrogen and progesterone play key roles in shaping how you feel throughout your menstrual cycle.

  • Low estrogen can leave you feeling flat or low, while rising levels often boost energy and mood.

  • Progesterone can cause emotional sensitivity or fatigue, especially in the premenstrual phase.

  • Everyone experiences these shifts differently, but if mood changes are severe or disruptive, support is available.



Comments

bottom of page