By: Mavis Asare: You know that part of your cycle that kicks off when your period starts? That’s called the follicular phase.
Sounds a bit science-y, right? But it’s actually kind of fascinating. It runs from day one of your period all the way to ovulation—basically, when your body’s gearing up for a potential pregnancy, even if that’s not on your agenda.
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| Lady in her time of the month (Source: Ai Generated) |
So, what’s really going on during this time? Estrogen—aka the queen of hormones—starts to rise. Think of it as your body’s way of saying, “Let’s get things moving!” Your ovaries? They’re busy maturing a few follicles, and one of them will get picked for ovulation like it's winning some internal game show. And your uterus? It’s fluffing up its lining just in case a fertilized egg wants to settle in later. Prepared much?
Usually this phase lasts about two weeks, but hey, whose body sticks to a perfect schedule anyway? The wild part is that this phase can totally shift how you feel—ever notice some days you’re full of energy and good vibes, while others you’re like, “Why do I feel so meh?” Yup, blame (or thank?) the follicular phase.
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| An energized lady(Source: Ai Generated) |
A lot of people say they feel way more energized and ready to take on the world during this phase. It’s like your body’s low-key cheering you on—perfect time to get moving, hit a workout, or finally crush that to-do list you've been avoiding.
Yeah, research points to some differences in how the follicular phase plays out for Black and White women. For example, studies have found that African American women often have lower levels of estrogen and FSH during this phase compared to Caucasian women, according to findings shared on ScienceDirect.
Did you know that the levels of estrogen in the brain protects women against dementia? Natalie Crawford, an Obsterician-Gynecologist in Austin, Texas throws more light on this.
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