Beginner’s Guide to Understanding Your Cycle (Even If You’re Clueless)

Let’s be honest: most of us didn’t get a proper explanation of how our menstrual cycle actually works. We heard vague things in school, maybe had an awkward “talk,” and were left to figure out the rest.

If you've ever thought,

“Wait, my period came early again?”“Why am I so moody and tired this week?”“Is this cramp normal or is my uterus at war with me?”

…you’re in the right place.

This guide is your no jargon, judgment free zone to finally understand what’s going on in your body, from your first period to your monthly mood swings and everything in between.

🔁 What Actually Is the Menstrual Cycle?

The menstrual cycle is not just your period. It’s a monthly hormonal cycle that prepares your body for a potential pregnancy, even if you’re not trying to get pregnant.

It has four main phases, each with its own vibe, symptoms, and hormonal shifts. Think of it like a month-long playlist, different moods, different tempos.

📅 The 4 Phases of Your Cycle (And What Happens in Each One)

1. Menstrual Phase (Day 1 to 5)

What’s happening: Your body sheds the uterine lining, which is your period.

Common symptoms: Cramping, fatigue, low energy, moodiness.

What to do:

• Rest more if you can

• Eat iron rich foods like ugu, beans, or lean meat

• Use heat pads or gentle stretching for cramps

• Don’t push yourself, this is your body’s reset button

2. Follicular Phase (Day 1 to 13)

Yes, it starts the same day your period begins but lasts longer

What’s happening: Your body is producing estrogen and prepping an egg for ovulation.

How you might feel: More energetic, optimistic, creative.

What to do:

• Try new things, your brain is sharper now

• Schedule tough tasks and workouts during this time

• Eat protein and veggies to support rising estrogen

3. Ovulation Phase (Around Day 14)

What’s happening: Your ovary releases an egg.

How you might feel: Flirty, confident, glowy.

Signs:

• Clear stretchy discharge

• Increased libido

• Slight cramp on one side (some feel it, some don’t)

What to do:

• If you’re trying to conceive, this is your best time

• Not trying? Be extra cautious, this is your most fertile window

• Show up for events, interviews, or dates, this is peak social energy

4. Luteal Phase (Day 15 to 28)

What’s happening: Progesterone rises to support a potential pregnancy. If no pregnancy happens, hormones drop, and PMS shows up.

Symptoms:

• Mood swings

• Bloating

• Food cravings

• Breast tenderness

• Fatigue

What to do:

• Don’t blame yourself for being tired or sensitive

• Plan for slower days and comfort food

• Hydrate, reduce salty foods, and try magnesium

• This is also a good time to journal and reflect

🧠 Why Understanding Your Cycle Matters

Knowing your cycle isn’t just for fertility or pregnancy.

It helps you:

✔️ Spot irregularities that could signal health issues

✔️ Schedule tasks, workouts, and social life around your natural rhythms

✔️ Reduce stress by working with your body, not against it

✔️ Understand yourself better

And yes, it can even help with productivity, relationships, and self care. You’re not lazy, you’re probably just in your luteal phase.

🩸 Is Your Cycle Normal?

A typical cycle is about 28 to 35 days, but normal can vary. What matters more is consistency.

Track:

• Start and end of your period

• Flow type (light, medium, heavy)

• Symptoms (cramps, moods, discharge, etc)

If your cycle is super irregular, painful, or affecting your daily life, talk to a doctor. It could be a sign of PCOS, endometriosis, fibroids, or something else.

✨ Asele’s Tip: Sync Your Life to Your Cycle

Try tracking your cycle for two or three months and notice your patterns.

With the Asele app, you’ll get:

• Gentle reminders for each phase

• Productivity tips based on your current phase

• Resources tailored to Nigerian and African women

• A supportive community that gets it

🧺 Bonus: Simple Terms You Should Know

• Ovulation: Release of an egg from the ovary

• Estrogen: The hormone that boosts energy, mood, and skin

• Progesterone: The calming hormone that prepares your body for pregnancy

• Discharge: Normal vaginal fluid that changes during your cycle

• PMS: Premenstrual syndrome, symptoms like irritability, bloating, and mood changes before your period starts

💬 Final Thoughts

Understanding your cycle isn’t about controlling your body, it’s about listening to it.

Your hormones aren’t your enemies. They’re your inner compass, telling you what you need.

So next time you catch yourself saying, “I don’t know what’s wrong with me,”pause and ask: Where am I in my cycle?

Chances are, your body already knows the answer.

📲 Ready to start tracking your cycle in a way that makes sense for you?

Join the waitlist for the Asele app and get a cycle-aware guide to health, productivity, and wellness designed for African women by African women.