Embracing cyclical living means harmonizing your daily routines, diet, movement, and mindfulness with your unique rhythms. By doing so, you unlock the power to optimize your hormonal balance, uplift your mood, boost your energy, and rekindle your libido.
Commonly Asked Period Questions
For women who are on hormonal birth control - what happens to their cycle?
Dr. Wright-Terrell (OB-GYN): My answer depends on the type of birth control, but we can focus on the combined hormonal contraceptive pill. This pill prevents ovulation. The bleeding that occurs after the 3rd week when you take the placebo pill is due to progesterone withdrawal, which is us (docs) replicating the natural progesterone withdrawal that occurs when the corpus luteum involutes. The progesterone withdrawal causes the endometrium to sloth off aka your menstrual cycle.
Do women on hormonal BC still ovulate? Do they have a "regular" period?
Dr. Wright-Terrell (OB-GYN): My answer depends on the type of birth control they are on, but we can focus on the combined hormonal contraceptive pill. No they do not ovulate while taking the pill correctly (i.e. taking every day at the same time). Now “regular” period? I feel like this is a loaded question - you would need to define what regular means to you and then I can answer.
How about if a woman (or individual) is on the IUD? Do they still have a "regular" cycle?
Dr. Wright-Terrell (OB-GYN): Individuals (transmen can have IUDs) using the IUD can still ovulate; the primary mechanism of action (i.e. how the IUD prevents pregnancy) is not by preventing ovulation. It increases cervical mucus and thins the endometrium, which prevents sperm from entering the uterus and making the uterine lining unfavorable for implantation.
My period is longer or shorter than the "average" 28 days - can I use In Flow?
Great question! Periods fluctuate in length from 21 to 35 days (although our OB-GYN advises that if your period is LONGER than 35 days, we recommend meeting with your doctor to check things out). With that in mind, In Flow is designed to work with any period length. You start on Day 1 of the planner (any day of the week!) and follow each page until day 21—then skip to the next cycle. Our daily tips (unique for every day) guide you along the way.
