THE RHYTHM OF HER • The Science + Soul of the Female Cycle • Menstruation

SoulSpring Wellness Journal™

Volume 02 · Issue 01

We spend a lot of time learning how to manage our periods.

Very little time learning what is actually happening inside the body.

Let’s change that.

Your menstrual cycle is a conversation between the brain, ovaries and uterus. Hormones rise and fall. The uterine lining builds, changes and eventually sheds. Then a new cycle begins. 

Four phases.

And there is a fascinating rhythm to it all.

THE PHASE

The first day of menstrual bleeding is Day 1 of the menstrual cycle.

At the end of the previous cycle, estrogen and progesterone levels fall. This hormonal shift signals the uterus to release the endometrial lining it has built throughout the month.

That is menstruation.

Menstrual fluid contains blood, endometrial tissue, cervical mucus and vaginal secretions, along with cells and other biological material from the reproductive tract. 

While you’re menstruating, the next cycle is already underway.

Follicles inside the ovaries are beginning to develop. Estrogen will gradually begin to rise. The uterine lining will eventually begin rebuilding.

Your body is already moving into the next phase. 

THE HORMONES

Three players are especially interesting during menstruation.

Estrogen

Estrogen is relatively low when your period begins. As ovarian follicles develop, estrogen gradually rises. This hormone will become increasingly important as the body moves toward ovulation. 

Progesterone

Progesterone rises after ovulation and helps prepare and maintain the uterine lining. When pregnancy doesn’t occur, progesterone falls along with estrogen.

That hormonal decline contributes to the beginning of menstruation. 

Prostaglandins

Here’s where things get interesting.

Prostaglandins are chemical messengers produced in the body. During menstruation, they help the uterus contract and play an important role in menstrual cramping. 

They can also influence the gastrointestinal tract.

And that brings us to one of the most relatable parts of the cycle.

BODY LITERACY

PERIOD POOP!

Let’s talk about it.

Some women notice more frequent bowel movements or looser stools when their period begins.

Some experience constipation.

Others notice bloating, gas, nausea or changes in abdominal comfort.

Research has documented cyclical changes in gastrointestinal symptoms and bowel habits, particularly around menstruation. Prostaglandins are one factor being studied because they can influence intestinal movement and secretion. 

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists lists diarrhea among symptoms that can accompany painful periods. 

So yes.

Period poop is a thing.

Now you know why.

THE DIGESTIVE CONNECTION

Your menstrual cycle can influence your digestive experience.

This is a great week to start paying attention.

Ask yourself:

How does my digestion feel before my period?

What changes once bleeding begins?

Am I more regular?

Do I feel more bloated?

Are my stools softer or harder?

Do I experience more gas?

Does my appetite change?

Keep a simple journal.

Over several cycles, you may begin to see your own patterns.

That information is valuable.

COLONIC MAINTENANCE

At SoulSpring, we believe wellness works best when it becomes a rhythm.

Hydration.

Nourishment.

Movement.

Rest.

Regular elimination.

And intentional self-care.

For women who incorporate colon hydrotherapy into their wellness routine, a monthly maintenance session can become part of that rhythm.

The timing can be personal.

Some women prefer to schedule their session after menstruation. Others choose another point in their cycle that feels comfortable and supportive.

There is no single calendar day that belongs to every woman.

Your cycle. Your body. Your rhythm.

The more familiar you become with your own patterns, the easier it is to create a wellness routine that feels intentional.

THE LUNAR RHYTHM

Now we get a little witchy.

The moon has been connected with feminine cycles, fertility, darkness, intuition and renewal throughout human history.

A lunar cycle, from one new moon to the next, averages about 29.5 days. Menstrual cycles vary from woman to woman and from month to month. The familiar 28-day cycle is a useful model for understanding the phases, but it isn’t a universal biological schedule.

The similarity between the two cycles has fascinated scientists, historians and women for generations.

And there is actually some science worth exploring here.

Research has investigated possible relationships between lunar light, gravitational forces and human menstrual cycles. Some studies have reported periods of temporary synchronization, particularly among women with cycles closer to the length of the lunar cycle.

Let’s stay curious.

Where is the moon when your period arrives?

Does your cycle tend to begin around the new moon?

The full moon?

Somewhere in between?

Do you notice changes in sleep, energy, mood or intuition?

Start keeping track.

Let your own experience become part of the conversation.

MENSTRUATION + THE NEW MOON

The new moon is dark.

Quiet.

Hidden from view.

Across spiritual traditions, the new moon has been associated with rest, reflection, release and intention.

Those themes pair beautifully with menstruation.

This can be a time to turn inward.

Maybe you want more sleep.

Maybe you crave quiet.

Maybe you want to spend time alone.

Maybe you’re perfectly energized and ready to keep moving.

Every woman’s experience is different.

The invitation is simply to notice.

What does this phase feel like in your body?

YOUR SOULSPRING RITUAL

Create ten quiet minutes for yourself.

Dim the lights.

Light a candle.

Take a few slow breaths.

Place a hand over your lower abdomen.

Notice what you feel.

Then journal:

What am I ready to release?

What needs my attention?

What would feel nourishing right now?

What do I want to carry into my next cycle?

You don’t need an elaborate ritual.

A quiet moment can be enough.

SCIENCE + SOUL

There is still so much to learn about the female body.

We can study the physiology.

We can understand the hormones.

We can track patterns.

We can listen to lived experience.

And we can leave room for mystery.

Science continues to investigate the relationship between human biology and our environment, including the possibility of lunar influences on reproductive rhythms. 

For SoulSpring, there is room for both knowledge and wonder.

The body gives us something measurable.

The moon gives us a rhythm to observe.

Our own experience gives us another layer of information.

SOMETHING TO NOTICE

For the next three months, track your cycle.

PERIOD

First day, length and flow.

DIGESTION

Frequency, consistency, bloating and comfort.

ENERGY

How you feel throughout the month.

MOOD

Patterns you notice.

BODY

Cramps, headaches, breast tenderness, pelvic sensations and anything else that stands out.

MOON

New moon, full moon and everything in between.

You may discover patterns you’ve never noticed before.

This is body literacy.

Learning your own language.

NEXT WEEK

THE FOLLICULAR PHASE

Estrogen begins to rise.

Follicles begin developing inside the ovaries.

The uterine lining begins rebuilding.

The body starts moving toward ovulation.

And we’re going inside the ovary to meet the follicle and understand what happens on the road to ovulation.

Next stop: the waxing moon.

SOURCES

1. National Center for Biotechnology Information, StatPearls.
Physiology, Menstrual Cycle.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK500020/ 

2. National Library of Medicine, NCBI MeSH.
Menstrual Cycle.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/68008597 

3. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Painful Periods.
https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/painful-periods 

4. Bharadwaj S, et al.
Symptomatology of irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease during the menstrual cycle. Gastroenterology Report. 2015.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4527267/ 

5. Bernstein MT, et al.
Gastrointestinal symptoms before and during menses in healthy women. BMC Women’s Health.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3901893/ 

6. Groothuis PG, et al.
Menstruation: science and society. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology / PMC.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7661839/ 

7. Helfrich-Förster C, et al.
Women temporarily synchronize their menstrual cycles with the luminance and gravimetric cycles of the Moon. Science Advances. 2021.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7840133/ 

8. Helfrich-Förster C, et al.
Synchronization of women’s menstruation with the Moon has decreased but remains detectable when gravitational pull is strong. Science Advances. 2025.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13141897/