Ovulation is the release of an egg from your ovary and it happens about 13-15 days before the start of each period. The timing of ovulation can vary from cycle to cycle and some women do not ovulate at all. For more information about ovulation, click here.
As I presented myself here, we often tend to refer to ovulation and to menstrual cycle in general, as a pure biological change that occurs every month. However, every woman probably knows already that this is more than just that. Menstrual cycle comes with many changes that cover many aspects from our lives, including psychological and social. Our cycle affects us emotionally and our emotions can impact our work, career, family, friends and the relationship we have with ourselves. It is already well known why women were not allowed to lead or have powerful roles in the past. It was believed that we are “emotionally unstable” and thus “unable to make proper decisions”. Thankfully evolution proved this wrong and we are seen as more than a pure reproductive method.
Mood swings during ovulation:
Mood changes are normal during ovulation and they are usually due to hormonal changes that occur in the body (oestrogen and testosterone levels peak). Common moods are:
- irritability
- emotional instability
Alternatively, many women report feeling more energised and having a high sex drive during ovulation period. Research showed that women at ovulation tend to look brighter and perceive themselves as more attractive than during other phases of the cycle. However, changes do happen in your body and now it’s the period when you are most fertile. So don’t push it too hard if you don’t feel like it. Consider your needs and take good care of your body. Be physical active if you feel like it or try some pilates/ yoga, nourish your body well, reflect on how you feel and accept your emotions.
What to eat during ovulation:
You might feel hungrier during ovulation and this might be due to the increase in the level of oestrogen and testosterone. You might be tempted to crave snacks rich in sugar and carbs and this is normal but try as hard as you can to resist them. While satisfying your appetite will make you feel good in short term, it will also create a drop in hormones level, which will make you feel depleted physically and psychologically. You might suddenly experience mood swings and feel lost, depressed, irritated or anxious without any particular reason. This is not what you need. Try instead to have a fresh fiber-rich diet. It is important to clean your body from toxins during this period and leafy veggies will help you to do so. Moreover, focus on omega-3 and omega-6 rich food, such as fish and eggs and on whole grains to preserve fertility and to balance your hormones so you do not experience any sudden mood swings. And you will see that happiness does come from the gut too!
If you try to conceive and you would like to supplement your body with some vitamins, here is a break down of the most important ones you may want to consider:
- B vitamins
- Vitamin C
- Calcium
- Vitamin D, E
- Coenzyme Q-10
- Folic acid
Self-care during ovulation:
The most important target during this period is to feel emotionally stable. If you feel good about yourself then you feel alright to do many other things that request your energy. But if you are emotionally unstable, this will trigger many other difficulties that will affect different domains of your life, such as: work, family, friends.
Given the rise in oestrogen, meeting a stable mood is not that difficult now. A peak in oestrogen will energise you and give you a boost to be proactive. So this is a great period to set targets, work on projects, handle difficult moments, give presentations, see friends, organise parties, do HIIT and other cardio activities.
The peak in testosterone gives you the confidence you need to handle all the things described just above. So, overall you’ve got everything you need hormonal-wise to do great and feel great. But don’t overlook it. Get to know your limits- your emotional limits and respect them. Otherwise you will enter PMS feeling exhausted and emotionally unstable. And we already know how PMS can be difficult so we do not want more of this burden.
Your ovulation period is all about enjoyment and pleasure. During this time you can dedicate the attention needed to work, family and friends, all whilst you feel good about yourself. Consider booking important meeting and getaways during this period as you will have higher chances to feel more energised and happy.
To sum up, ovulation is the period when you are most fertile and that announces the onset of PMS. Whilst is generally a period of glory and overall stable moods, you might have some difficult times if you do not respect your emotional boundaries or if you do not nourish your body accordingly. Do pay attention to yourself and cherish who you are because you mean so much!