What Happens to Your Hormones During Each Cycle Phase

Your menstrual cycle is really a graceful rise and fall of hormones, repeating month after month. You do not need a biology degree to understand the basics — and once you do, so much of how you feel across the month starts to make sense.

Menstrual phase (your period)

On the first day of bleeding, estrogen and progesterone are at their lowest. The drop in these hormones is what triggers the lining of the uterus to shed. Low hormones are part of why energy can feel low and rest feels welcome in these days.

Follicular phase (after your period)

As your period ends, estrogen begins to climb as your body prepares to release an egg. Rising estrogen is often linked with returning energy, clearer focus, brighter mood, and growing confidence — for many, the most capable stretch of the month.

Ovulation (around mid-cycle)

Estrogen peaks and a surge of luteinizing hormone triggers the release of an egg. Testosterone also rises slightly. This is often when libido, confidence, and that sense of "glow" are highest, and it marks your fertile window.

Luteal phase (before your next period)

After ovulation, progesterone rises and has a calming, sometimes tiring effect. If pregnancy does not occur, both progesterone and estrogen fall in the final days — the shift often behind premenstrual mood changes, cravings, and fatigue. Then bleeding begins, and the cycle starts again.

Understanding this rhythm turns your month from a mystery into a map. My Bloom Buddy shows exactly where you are in that hormonal journey as a living sunflower — sprouting, blooming at ovulation, and gently winding down — each day paired with a simple note about what your body is doing. It stays completely private on your phone, so this understanding is yours alone.