Why does the menstrual cycle mess up your energy levels?

V

visceral_instinct

Monkey see, monkey denigrate
Valued Senior Member
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Could it affect levels of adrenaline/cortisol/that general class of hormones? I do notice that a while before a period I'm hyperalert and on a mild high all the time, then immediately before and during one I'm weak and sleepy, and can't go for more than a short while without getting hypoglycemic. I know there's probably an element of anemia from losing blood, still, the blood sugar thing suggests hormonal disturbance...?
 
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Don't trust anything that bleeds for five days and doesn't die. :p

We don't actually know why PMS* happens because it occurs in the luteal phase, when hormone levels are "normal". There is some indication that it may be due to changes in serotonin levels but the data is inconclusive

*PMS = Psychotic men slayers
 
S.A.M. said:
Don't trust anything that bleeds for five days and doesn't die. :p

We don't actually know why PMS* happens because it occurs in the luteal phase, when hormone levels are "normal". There is some indication that it may be due to changes in serotonin levels but the data is inconclusive

*PMS = Psychotic men slayers
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At the risk of getting my eyes clawed out by Vis.. couldn't it be that women use PMS as an excuse for being cranky ?
 
Enmos said:
At the risk of getting my eyes clawed out by Vis.. couldn't it be that women use PMS as an excuse for being cranky ?
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You can keep your eyes. But only 'cause it's you, :D

Seriously, it is a symptom and not just us deciding 'Yay, I'm about to have my period, I don't have to tolerate people today!'

At least I know I'll be normal and rational and alert and suddenly my endocrine system does something weird, and then I'm lethargic and weak and can't go for more than a short time without getting this horrible seismic hypoglycemia, and EVERYTHING pisses me off. I feel explosively angry for no reason and can't handle too much sensory information. 2 people talking to me at once = psychotic episode.
 
visceral_instinct said:
You can keep your eyes. But only 'cause it's you, :D

Seriously, it is a symptom and not just us deciding 'Yay, I'm about to have my period, I don't have to tolerate people today!'

At least I know I'll be normal and rational and alert and suddenly my endocrine system does something weird, and then I'm lethargic and weak and can't go for more than a short time without getting this horrible seismic hypoglycemia, and EVERYTHING pisses me off. I feel explosively angry for no reason and can't handle too much sensory information. 2 people talking to me at once = psychotic episode.
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Hmm the symptoms sound like they're symptoms of someone under great stress.
Perhaps there's too much going on inside the body (stress) to be dealing with even minor additional stress factors (most other people ;)).

Yay for my eyes ! :)
 
Enmos said:
Hmm the symptoms sound like they're symptoms of someone under great stress.
Perhaps there's too much going on inside the body (stress) to be dealing with even minor additional stress factors (most other people ;)).

Yay for my eyes ! :)
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I am not stressed most of the time, though. Hyper, sure, but happy. Not stressed.

Hehe :D
 
visceral_instinct said:
^

I do notice that a while before a period I'm hyperalert and on a mild high all the time, then immediately before and during one I'm weak and sleepy, and can't go for more than a short while without getting hypoglycemic.
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You spend 30 or so days storing up all kinds of good stuff in your blood as your hormones get ready for conception and then it's all flushed out, so no wonder that you feel weak, weird and moody.

Insight:Women are so irritable and moody during their period in order to 'put off' men who may otherwise waste a good dollop of sperm without the intended outcome. Having said that I used to feel most attracted to my wife just before her period, which again was not the most optimal time for conception.:shrug:
 
tablariddim said:
You spend 30 or so days storing up all kinds of good stuff in your blood as your hormones get ready for conception and then it's all flushed out, so no wonder that you feel weak, weird and moody.

Insight:Women are so irritable and moody during their period in order to 'put off' men who may otherwise waste a good dollop of sperm without the intended outcome. Having said that I used to feel most attracted to my wife just before her period, which again was not the most optimal time for conception.:shrug:
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Why would a woman care about a guy wasting sperm ? Sperm isn't exactly valuable..
 
Enmos said:
At the risk of getting my eyes clawed out by Vis.. couldn't it be that women use PMS as an excuse for being cranky ?
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It seems that way because Visceral_Instinct and S.A.M come across as very forthright and assertive women all month-round. Of course it's not just them, but for a women whose main outlet of frustration and discontent is aggression, this tendency will increase in the time before her period.
Personally, I get very weepy and depressed (if anything) and, looking back, this seems to be the time when I have made the most ridiculously emotional gestures. Last time I was afflicted, I sent my best friend a set of long and slightly weird e-mails explaining how much I was going to miss him while he was off travelling.
For others the main symptoms (apart from the aforementioned irritability, anxiety, depression etc) can include:

* Headaches
* Feeling bloated
* Weight gain/Excessive Hunger
* Breast tenderness
* Back or lower abdominal pain

So all in all, I think to say that PMS is an excuse for 'being cranky' is a falsity and an understatement all rolled into one.
 
It would have been nice if women had estrus cycles like most other mammals instead: re-absorb uterine lining internally. Sadly we had to be descended from bleeding apes. Then again if it was pheromonally active estrus cycles women would be complaining about how they get so horny and how they have to hold of the men with a poker stick when they get in heat, I don't think the men would complain though.
 
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Cellar_Door said:
It seems that way because Visceral_Instinct and S.A.M come across as very forthright and assertive women all month-round. Of course it's not just them, but for a women whose main outlet of frustration and discontent is aggression, this tendency will increase in the time before her period.
Personally, I get very weepy and depressed (if anything) and, looking back, this seems to be the time when I have made the most ridiculously emotional gestures. Last time I was afflicted, I sent my best friend a set of long and slightly weird e-mails explaining how much I was going to miss him while he was off travelling.
For others the main symptoms (apart from the aforementioned irritability, anxiety, depression etc) can include:

* Headaches
* Feeling bloated
* Weight gain/Excessive Hunger
* Breast tenderness
* Back or lower abdominal pain

So all in all, I think to say that PMS is an excuse for 'being cranky' is a falsity and an understatement all rolled into one.
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I'll take your and Vis's words for it :)
However, I have personally experienced it on several occasions that some women do tend use it as an excuse. Or at least use it to pick a good fight while they have a good excuse for it.
So I'm not saying women aren't feeling all those things you mentioned, just that some women take full advantage of it.
 
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