What Are the Phases of the Menstrual Cycle?

The four phases of the menstrual cycle are: menstruation (days 1–5), the follicular phase (days 1–13), ovulation (around day 14), and the luteal phase (days 15–28). Each phase is driven by a distinct hormonal shift that affects energy, mood, skin, fertility, and digestion throughout the month.

Confused about what happens during your cycle? Here is a plain-language guide to all four phases — what is happening hormonally, what you might feel, and when to speak with a doctor.

Key Things to Know About Your Menstrual Cycle

• Your cycle starts on the first day of your period and ends the day before your next period begins

• A typical cycle lasts between 21 and 35 days; 28 days is a common average

• Ovulation occurs when an ovary releases a mature egg — this is your most fertile moment

• PMS symptoms in the second half of the cycle are driven by the drop in oestrogen and rise in progesterone

• The Eshe Cycle Calendar helps you track symptoms, predict your fertile window, and spot patterns that may indicate a hormonal condition

How Long Is a Normal Menstrual Cycle?

Most cycles fall between 21 and 35 days, with 28 days being a common average. Your period typically lasts two to seven days. Both can shift at different life stages — puberty, after pregnancy, during perimenopause, or when starting or stopping hormonal contraception.

Phase 1: Menstruation (Days 1–5)

What Is Happening

Day one of your period is day one of your cycle. The uterine lining — built up during the previous cycle in preparation for a potential pregnancy — sheds along with blood. Uterine contractions help expel this tissue. Oestrogen and progesterone are at their lowest point, signalling the body to begin a new cycle.

What You Might Feel

• Cramping in the lower abdomen or back

• Bloating and breast tenderness

• Fatigue, headaches, and digestive changes

• Mood swings or low motivation

Bleeding colour can range from bright red to dark brown, and some clotting is normal. Clots larger than a 50 kobo coin or a 5-shilling coin, soaking through a pad every hour, or pain that prevents normal activity are all worth discussing with a doctor.

Phase 2: The Follicular Phase (Days 1–13)

What Is Happening

The follicular phase overlaps with menstruation and continues until ovulation. The pituitary gland releases follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), prompting several follicles in the ovaries to begin developing. One becomes dominant and matures an egg. As follicles grow, they produce oestrogen, which thickens the uterine lining and prepares the body for a potential pregnancy.

What You Might Feel

As oestrogen rises, most women notice a gradual shift toward higher energy, better mood, sharper focus, and stronger motivation. Cervical mucus becomes increasingly fluid as ovulation approaches.

Phase 3: Ovulation (Around Day 14)

What Is Ovulation and When Does It Happen?

Ovulation is the release of a mature egg from the dominant follicle, triggered by a sharp surge in luteinising hormone (LH). The egg is viable for approximately 12 to 24 hours. Because sperm can survive in the reproductive tract for up to five days, the fertile window extends to roughly six days — the five days before ovulation plus ovulation day itself.

Hormones During Ovulation

LH spikes sharply. Oestrogen peaks just before the LH surge. Progesterone begins to rise immediately after ovulation.

What You Might Feel

• Clear, stretchy cervical mucus

• Mild one-sided pelvic ache (Mittelschmerz)

• A noticeable boost in energy and libido

• Slight rise in basal body temperature

• Occasional light spotting

This is typically the phase when women report feeling their best — most social, most energetic, and most confident.

Phase 4: The Luteal Phase (Days 15–28)

What Is the Luteal Phase?

After the egg is released, the follicle transforms into a structure called the corpus luteum, which produces progesterone. Progesterone maintains the thickened uterine lining in case a fertilised egg implants.

• If fertilisation occurs: the embryo implants in the lining. The corpus luteum continues producing progesterone to support early pregnancy.

• If fertilisation does not occur: the corpus luteum breaks down, progesterone and oestrogen fall, and the uterine lining begins to shed — starting a new cycle.

What You Might Feel

The drop in oestrogen and rise in progesterone during this phase drives most PMS symptoms:

• Breast tenderness and bloating

• Fatigue and sleep changes

• Mood swings, irritability, or low mood

• Food cravings, particularly for carbohydrates

• Skin breakouts

• Headaches

These symptoms typically peak in the final week before your period and ease once bleeding begins.

When Can You Get Pregnant During Your Cycle?

When to See a Doctor

Contact a healthcare provider if you experience:

• Cycles consistently shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 days

• No period for three or more consecutive months (outside pregnancy)

• Ovulation pain lasting longer than 24 hours

• Bleeding that is unusually heavy, unusually light, or occurring between periods

• Spotting after sex

Why Does Tracking Your Cycle Matter?

Tracking your cycle gives you a record your doctor can actually use. It also helps you:

• Plan for pregnancy: identify your fertile window with greater accuracy

• Manage symptoms: understand why you feel a certain way at a certain point in the month

• Detect issues early: irregular patterns are often the first sign of hormonal conditions like PCOS or thyroid dysfunction

The Eshe Cycle Calendar logs your cycle dates, symptoms, and physical signs in one place — and builds a personalised picture of your hormonal health over time.