[Tracking Your Cycle Is As Natural As Your Daily Skin Routine]

When thinking of ‘cycle’, the first thing that probably came to mind for most women is your period. But, it is actually more than that. Back in our school days, we were taught the reason why we have our period, and how to prevent unwanted pregnancy instead of what is really going on with our bodies. From cycle to cycle the period is just the first phase.

A period is made up of two cycles that interact and overlap: one occurring in the ovaries and one in the uterus. The brain, ovaries, and uterus work together and communicate through hormones (chemical signals sent through the blood from one part of the body to another) to keep the cycle going. We sometimes notice changes in our skin, mood, hair and sometimes migraines and headaches, or the way we experience intimacy (yes, sex) at different points through the cycle.

Our body reacts to the flow of the cycle, so understanding the cycle is a way to understand your body. Tracking your cycle should be as natural and essential as your daily skin routine, brushing your teeth before bed, or your morning coffee.

Viewing your cycle as a daily hormonal fluctuation that influences you both physically and mentally. Hormones vary during the different phases of your cycle and this has a direct influence on your behavior and appearance.

[An overview]

° The follicular phase: The time between the first day of your period and ovulation. Estrogen rises as an egg prepares to be released.

° Period: The menstruation—the shedding of the uterine lining. Estrogen and progesterone levels are low.

° The proliferative phase: After the period, the uterine lining builds up again.

° Ovulation: The release of the egg from the ovary, mid-cycle. Estrogen peaks just beforehand, and then drops shortly afterwards.

° The luteal phase: The time between ovulation and before the beginning of menstruation, when the body prepares for a possible pregnancy. Progesterone is produced, peaks, and then drops.

° The secretory phase: The uterine lining produces chemicals that will either help support an early pregnancy or will prepare the lining to break down and shed if pregnancy doesn’t occur.

THE FIRST PART OF THE CYCLE : Follicular Phase

*From the start of period until ovulation. Signals from the brain tell the ovaries to prepare for the release of an egg.*

The Beginning # Period

Each cycle starts with the period. A period is the normal shedding of blood and the lining of the uterus through the cervix and vagina. On average lasts about 5 - 6 days (or 4), or it may last up to 8 days. 

/ WHEN / From the time bleeding starts to the time it ends.

/ WHAT / Old blood and tissue from inside the uterus is shed through the vagina.

/ VAGINAL pH / Neutral.

/ BODY CONDITION / Period cramps! Slow blood circulation, the body temperature falls. Also might feel dizzy, might feel you need to go to bathroom more often than usual (or diarrhea).

/ MENTAL CONDITION / As estrogen and progesterone levels are low, feel tired and cranky. Can be emotional and unstable.

/ SKIN CONDITION / Sensitive, feels drier and lines or wrinkles appear more obvious, flushed more easily.

/ VAGINAL CONDITION / Dry, sensitive and scant. Period blood has a high pH, which can tip the balance and allow bad bacteria to move in, pushing out the good kind. Some notice the period blood becomes dryer and darker or brown near the end of it, and sometimes it stays inside for longer than it should be.

/ TIPS FOR VAGINA / Douching or Steaming vagina only disrupt vaginal balance. Care your vagina to restore its healthy condition is simple. Balance its pH, and help the blood discharge properly. Let's inclear's transparent gel combines physiological residual blood attached to the vaginal ​wall, and is discharged to the outside to ensure a clean environment and helps regulate pH balanced. 

Pre-ovulation # Proliferative Phase

While the ovaries are working on developing the egg-containing follicles, the uterus is responds to the estrogen produced by the follicles, rebuilding the lining that was just shed during the last period. The lining of the uterus, which was tiniest during the period, becomes thicker to create a place where a potential fertilized egg can implant and grow.

/ WHEN / From the end of the period until ovulation

/ WHAT / The uterus builds up a thick inner lining

/ VAGINAL pH / pH 3.8 – 4.5

/ BODY CONDITION / Because the estrogen and progesterone are balanced during this phase, plus serotonin ( the ‘feel good’ hormone) increases, your body is in the best condition.

/ MENTAL CONDITION / Energetic, confident and feeling strong. Feel more attractive and look it too.

/ SKIN CONDITION / Skin may have a improved a more even tone, and feels firmer.

/ VAGINAL CONDITION / Will have a couple of days with no discharge, so don’t be alarmed because it will soon start to lubricate again, and will become wetter and wetter.

/ TIPS FOR VAGINA /  ​The condition changes just in a few days, No lube to Yes lube.To enhance its condition and activities, proper care is needed . inclear offers a one-step solution for the healthy vaginal microbiome system. The transparent gel of inclear is formulated with Lactic Acid and Sodium Hyaluronate which acts as a protective layer to keep vagina pH balanced.

THE SECOND PART OF THE CYCLE : Ovulation & Luteal Phase

*Ovulation is release of the egg from the ovary. Once ovulation occurs, the egg produces estrogen and progesterone, so both hormone levels peak about halfway through this time. *

Interlude # Ovulation

Ovulation usually happens about 13-15 days before the start of the next period. The race winner (the dominant follicle) in the ovary produces more and more estrogen as it grows larger, and then when estrogen levels are high enough, it releases an egg.

/ WHEN / About midway through the cycle, but this can change cycle to cycle. It divides the two phases of the ovarian cycle—the follicular and the luteal phase.

/ WHAT / An egg is released from the ovary into the fallopian tube.

/ VAGINAL pH / Neutral

/ BODY CONDITION / High estrogen levels are also said to trigger pain-masking endorphins in the brain, so this is a good time to visit the dentist or get your legs waxed!

/ MENTAL CONDITION / Uptick in sex drive, feeling confident. Higher levels of estrogen in this phase improve spatial awareness, imagination, memory and social skills.

/ SKIN CONDITION / The best skin looks great all month! Estrogen plumps up skin cells and encourages the production of collagen. Hydrated, smooth, healthy and brighter.

/ VAGINAL CONDITION / Might notice a sticky and moist vagina. Usually detect increased vaginal secretions that are wet, and a slippery discharge.

Post-ovulation # Luteal & Secretory Phases

Once ovulation occurs, the follicle that contained the egg transforms into something called a “corpus luteum”. The body decides whether to support the early pregnancy or to have a period. The luteal phase typically lasts about 14 days, but between 9 and 16 days in common. 

/ WHEN / From ovulation until the start of the next period

/ WHAT / The sac that contained the egg produces estrogen and progesterone, the lining of the uterus releases chemicals that will either support early pregnancy or help the lining break down and shed.

/ VAGINAL pH / pH 3.8 – 4.5

/ BODY CONDITION / Some can suffer from PMS, such as tender breasts, bloating, and cramps.

/ MENTAL CONDITION / Rising levels of progesterone can make you feel tired, quiet and perhaps a little bit emotional. Food cravings also can be followed to get “happy hormone” (seratonin) levels up again.

/ SKIN CONDITION / Skin swells, and squeezes pores shut, leading to a break-out. Skin environment favorable for acne and other minor problems, so the risk of skin problems can be highest at this time.

/ VAGINAL CONDITION / Sticky and moisturized in the days before the period. On the day immediately before the period, may notice no lubricant at all.

/ TIPS FOR VAGINA / ​Vagina is getting dryer and the estrogen gets lower, the eco system of vagina can be easily disrupt. so it is important to support it to maintain its vaginal pH and keep it moisturized. It may sounds difficult but it is not. Use inclear as part of self-care routine to stay and clean and healthy. If you feel way too dry, wettrust VM can be the options too.

And after all this, the period begins, and the whole cycles starts all over again.

Just by understanding the simple things about the cycle and the body's condition, we can have more control in our lives, and understand the symptoms well. Vaginal health interacts with our body condition, and the body function also interacts with the vaginal condition. Our body is designed to be able to protect its own system and same goes with the vagina, so it does not need internal cleaning with douches, vaginal steaming or washes. All of those things will disrupt the vaginal microbiome and potentially cause unhealthy changes.

Maintaining a pH balance and keep it moist is the key to supporting a healthy vagina. But stress, hormone imbalance, intercourse and many other thing can disrupt the cycle and vaginal health.

Wettrust’s products are designed and formulated to MAINTAIN, ENHANCE, RESTORE and SUPPORT. We provide the most intimate support for real wellness.