Every woman knows menstrual cycles can affect what we eat and how we feel. But did you know they also can help determine your dating success? Whether or not you\u2019ll quit that nicotine habit? Or even where you choose to live?<\/p>\n
Hormones and body chemicals can influence our emotions and what we accomplish, says Los Angeles-based ob-gyn Stuart Fischbein, M.D.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s because during the three phases of your menstrual cycle \u2013 follicular, ovulation and luteal \u2013 your body undergoes subtle changes that can inspire your choices and commitment.<\/p>\n
Of course, we\u2019re not controlled entirely by body chemistry, and you shouldn\u2019t plan your life around your cycle. But if you have some big life decisions looming, it\u2019s worth a look.<\/p>\n
Here, we break down how the three phases of your menstrual cycle can influence your social, professional and personal life, according to recent studies. The sections are based on the average 28-day menstrual cycle, but many women have shorter or longer cycles, so adjust accordingly.<\/p>\n
Phase 1: Follicular (Day 1 \u2013 the first day of your menstrual cycle \u2013 to 13) <\/p>\n
Best time to: Find Mr. Right. <\/p>\n
Women tend to focus better \u2013 and perhaps be more selective in the dating world \u2013 during the follicular phase.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s when estrogen [levels] are high,\u201d explains University of Las Vegas Nevada researcher Chrisalbeth Guillermo, who has studied how women\u2019s menstrual cycles influence our behavior. \u201cWe\u2019re more intent on looking for the right mate.\u201d <\/p>\n
That means you\u2019ll be more inclined to go for the smart, successful type, Guillermo says, because \u201cyou\u2019re programmed to look for the best genes for future offspring.\u201d<\/p>\n
Watch out for: Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
In case you do find Mr. Right, be sure to use a condom, especially during this phase.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s because, when you\u2019re menstruating, your chances of contracting STDs, including HIV, are higher, says Mary Rosser, M.D., an ob-gyn with Montefiore Medical Center in New York City.<\/p>\n
Your cervix also is more open and relaxed during menstruation, increasing susceptibility to unwanted bacteria or viruses.<\/p>\n
\u201cBlood is a great conduit for sexually transmitted diseases or bacteria,\u201d Rosser says. \u201cHaving sex during your period is fine, but definitely use a condom.\u201d<\/p>\n
Watch out for: Getting enough shut-eye.
Restless nights from cramps and anxiety are considered part of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). But many women get these symptoms three to five days after their period starts.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s because our hormones \u2013 including testosterone \u2013 shift, says Guillermo, whose 2010 study about sleep disturbances and the menstrual cycle was published in the journal BMC Women\u2019s Health.<\/p>\n
Testosterone goes up, making us feel agitated and less peaceful, which makes sleeping tougher.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese changes can be mild and not necessarily clinically diagnosable as anxiety or depression, but many women still feel more distress and less well-being during these times,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Phase 2: Ovulation (Day 13-16 of your menstrual cycle)
Best time to: Start a relationship.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re ovulating, you\u2019re not likely to dump the sweet but boring man you\u2019re dating.<\/p>\n
\u201cAround ovulation, women are more inclined to stay with their current mate,\u201d Guillermo says. \u201cYour body thinks you\u2019re about to become pregnant, so you only want a stable, safe environment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Same goes for apartment shopping during this phase, Guillermo says: You\u2019ll probably choose a safe, quiet neighborhood instead of the trendy downtown village.<\/p>\n
Best time to: Enjoy a good romp.
That inexplicable chemistry you\u2019re having with a guy you just met? There\u2019s a reason for it.<\/p>\n
When we meet a potential mate, our hormones can influence us negatively or positively, and that first impression can persist long into a relationship, according to a 2010 Emory University study published in the journal Hormonal Behavior.<\/p>\n
They also affect our sexual attraction levels.<\/p>\n
Women in the ovulation phase looked at sexually explicit visuals much longer than women in other phases, researchers found. And if aroused, their interest usually stayed piqued.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir hormonal condition when they first saw the images predicted their interest not just then, but also in the future,\u201d explains Emory University psychologist Kim Wallen, Ph.D., one of the study\u2019s lead researchers.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they were exposed first during the luteal (or premenstrual) phase, though, they were never as interested,\u201d Wallen says.<\/p>\n
That may help explain why you have trouble getting past a lukewarm first impression. Maybe you met your date during the wrong phase.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re a guy, you don\u2019t want to meet a woman during her luteal phase,\u201d Wallen advises.<\/p>\n
Phase 3: Luteal (Day 16-28 of your menstrual cycle)
Best time to: Commit to an exercise program.
Couch potatoes looking to make that first move to the treadmill may want to wait a few weeks after their periods before starting, according to University of New Mexico Albuquerque researchers.<\/p>\n
Women in the luteal phase (and late ovulation phase) were less likely to experience discomfort and pain with a new exercise program than those in their early follicular phase.<\/p>\n
Watch out for: Diet fatigue.
Eating healthy can be extra hard during the luteal stage, so watch your diet carefully.<\/p>\n
Women who aren\u2019t on birth control tend to be hungrier and eat roughly 10% more calories the week before their periods, says Megan McVay, a researcher at Louisiana State University\u2019s Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge.<\/p>\n
Women on birth control share a similar increase in appetite and food intake before their periods, but also during it, she concluded in a study published in the January 2011 issue of the journal Eating Behaviors.<\/p>\n
So if you\u2019re about to embark on a new diet, should you wait until after your period?<\/p>\n
\u201cYou might be more successful,\u201d McVay says.<\/p>\n
Best time to: Tackle tough jobs.
On the other hand, if you have something crummy to do, try it about Day 17 or 18. That\u2019s when your hormones put you in the best mood.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring the luteal phase, it\u2019s like being high on drugs,\u201d Guillermo says. \u201cEspecially in the middle of the luteal phase, you get a progesterone peak.\u201d<\/p>\n
Unless, that is, you suffer from PMS and experience a dip in progesterone during this phase. Then, like 10%-15% of women, you might want to lock the doors and come out on Day 28.<\/p>\n
Best time to: Quit smoking.
During the luteal phase, you may be primed to stop lighting up.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s harder in the follicular phase, when estrogen is higher, enhancing the enjoyment of nicotine, according to McVay, who also researched the menstrual cycle\u2019s effects on smoking cessation.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt seems the best time to quit is in the luteal phase,\u201d when estrogen levels are lower and nicotine isn\u2019t as rewarding, says McVay.<\/p>\n
If that doesn\u2019t work, try to quit during the follicular phase, when you\u2019re more emotionally stable.<\/p>\n
\u201cMood is a really important factor in quitting,\u201d McVay says.<\/p>\n
Best time to: Get a bikini wax.
A woman\u2019s response to pain changes with her menstrual cycle, according to 2010 research published in the Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology.<\/p>\n
Around Day 7-14 (your follicular phase), women tend to feel pain more strongly. So move your appointments to the dentist, bikini wax or any other painful procedures later in your cycle.<\/p>\n
None of these rules are set in stone, of course, but they\u2019re worth considering.<\/p>\n
Ob-gyn Fischbein advises, \u201cSome women are reportedly influenced a lot, some not at all.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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