Hi, I’m glad you’re here 🩷 If the menstrual cycle has ever felt like a confusing mix of dates and body changes, let’s make it a little simpler. Your cycle is counted from the first day of one period to the first day of the next. You might hear that a cycle is “28 days,” but that’s an average, not a rule everyone has to follow. Cycles can vary from person to person, and even from one month to another. Think of the cycle as four helpful chapters: MENSTRUAL PHASE This is when your period happens. The first day you bleed is counted as day one of a new cycle. FOLLICULAR PHASE This phase starts on the first day of your period and continues until ovulation. During this time, an egg develops and the lining of the uterus begins to build again. Your period takes place at the start of this phase, so the two overlap. OVULATION Ovulation is when an ovary releases an egg. It doesn’t happen on day 14 for everyone. Its timing can vary, so a calendar estimate can’t confirm exactly when it happen...