My Girlfriend Just Got Her Period. Now What? – Cora

Her hormones are wreaking havoc.

There are lots of stereotypes about how women act during their period. Some people say their girlfriends get “crazy.” (Pro Tip: Never, ever say this to your girlfriend. Seriously, not cool.) Some women admit to getting mad at the sound of their partner’s breathing. Still, others say that they want to eat everything in sight and hide in their bed until the bleeding and concurrent pain and irritability stop. All of these emotions may feel totally overwhelming to you. You want to help but aren’t sure how to approach her.

Let’s get one thing straight first: It’s not her fault. Her hormones are constantly fluctuating throughout each month and can lead to some pretty intense feelings. Just like we covered what happens physically during each phase of menstruation, we’re going to cover the hormonal changes and how they may affect her emotional well-being.

Here’s what each phase really means:

The Menstrual Phase. Every woman is different, especially during the menstrual phase. For some, the start of her period may bring relief from the cramps and cravings. Others may feel more tired than normal and experience painful cramps. It’s a really individual thing.

The Follicular Phase. During the follicular phase, a hormone called estradiol begins to rise. This hormone is known to lessen feelings of stress caused by cortisol and adrenaline. Her estrogen is also on the rise, which can make her feel cool, calm, and collected. Your girlfriend is likely to feel the best during this time of the month.

The Ovulation Phase. There’s a very scientific explanation for what happens during the ovulation phase, but we’ll keep it short and sweet: That estradiol that started rising during her follicular phase makes her insulin more effective. In turn, this signals to the body that it needs to release more testosterone. The result? She’s likely to have a higher libido than any other time of the month. Lucky you! Just make sure to take extra precautions during this phase if a baby isn’t in your near future plans—ovulation is the time when women are the most fertile.

The Luteal Phase. Here’s where the trouble really begins. Her body is creating more progesterone, which can make her feel moody. Add this to the extra cortisol that tends to be present during this time and her stress levels may be higher than usual. Studies have shown that, during the luteal phase, women tend to crave comfort foods and are more likely to indulge.

An important thing to remember is that period symptoms aren’t always related to hormonal changes. In fact, many of them are related to a woman’s lifestyle. Drinking alcohol, eating a lot of sugar, and not working out can all contribute to feeling less-than-amazing during her period. Don’t criticize her if she’s doing these things, though. Instead, ask if she wants to take a walk, offer tea instead of wine, or whip her up a healthy dinner that will help ease her period pains.