Anyone trying to conceive knows how exhausting it can be, for many reasons. Trying to conceive can take a toll physically, but also mentally. This can be a long journey for some, and often involves a lot of calculations and body monitoring. Even women who are not trying to conceive at the moment monitor their cycle to spot any irregularities, as this is just as important to a woman’s health. While the process can take a toll on a woman, she may find that she feels exhausted every month, but only at certain points in her cycle.
When she calculates her cycle, she may notice that this exhaustion begins around ovulation time, and assume that it is the physical act of ovulation that is making her tired. She thinks her body is hard at work releasing an egg, and with that comes hormones, which can make someone tired. However, is it ovulation that causes exhaustion, or something else? Finding out the answer can help a woman track her cycle and find ways to deal with this creeping fatigue.
Is ovulation making you tired?
If we are looking for a short answer, whether ovulation is what makes us tired, the short answer is no. According to Romper, it is not the act of ovulation that makes someone tired, and exhaustion sets in after ovulation has already occurred.
Dr. Lakeisha Richardson is OB/GYN, and she said that the data tells us that a woman feels extra fatigue and insomnia during her “premenstrual time” and it happens right after ovulation. This is when your progesterone levels rise and there are drops in melatonin and cortisol. These are all involved in a person’s sleep-wake cycle, and they can make someone more tired.
Could there be other reasons?
If a woman notices that she’s tired one month, and it’s not something she normally struggles with, she may want to rule out any other reason that could be making her tired. According to Women Cycles, hormones play a big role in a woman being tired at the same time each month, but it can also be due to low iron, sleep problems due to PMS symptoms, and if she has eaten a lot. It is important for a woman to follow her cycles every month, and get to know her body. This can help her determine what the baseline is, and when something is unusual and needs to be checked.
How to help
We all lead busy lives, and it’s not always fun or practical to go to work with a little fatigue on top of that. That’s why it’s important for women to know that there are things they can do to help. According to Mia Fem, the most important thing remains to keep an eye on your cycle. This can help you know when to expect fatigue to hit, and then you can implement some strategies.
During this time, it can help to practice some relaxation techniques, exercise more (even if you don’t feel like it), avoid caffeine for a few days, and try reading before bed instead of watching TV. look. All of these things can help you get the rest you need and strength through this time of the month.
Sources: Romper, Women Cycles, Mia Fem
English
French
Spanish