menstruation It affects approximately half the world’s population for about half of their lives. However, it came as a surprise to no one remains a very little-studied phenomenon. It has long been known that changes in levels sex hormones affect the brain. Changes in the brain were detected at times of high hormonal influence, for example, puberty or contraceptive use. So it is obvious that there must exist effect of menstruation on the brain. The problem is that until recently no one thought about it.
Many people experience mental health problems during menstruationor on previous days. This is usually considered a symptom premenstrual syndrome and, like everything connected with periods, this is not given much importance. You’re just sensitive because you’re on your period. The fact is that there are times when these symptoms are very serious. You may even have to prescribe antidepressants and, of course, provide psychological assistance. Why is this happening? We have a rough idea, but without knowing the changes that menstruation causes in the brain, it is very difficult to give a clear idea.
For this reason, a group of researchers from University of California at Santa Barbara conducted a study in which the group’s brains 30 women in different phases of the menstrual cycle. The results are very clear: there really are influences that we never paid attention to.
Hormones that come and go
During the menstrual cycle, four hormones are mainly released, the levels of which rise or fall, giving way to new phases. This estrogens, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH).
As for the phases, then ovulation This is the process by which an egg that is mature enough to be fertilized leaves the ovary and travels down the fallopian tube to await the arrival of a sperm. During this phase, progesterone levels, previously at their lowest levels, begin to rise, while estrogen levels, which have just passed their peak, fall slightly but remain elevated. For their part, FSH and LH reach a peak, which helps the egg continue to mature. At this stage, the layer lining the uterus, called the endometrium, begins to thicken in case an embryo needs to be placed.
Next comes luteal phase in which progesterone levels continue to increase until they reach their peak. While this is happening, estrogen levels remain quite high. For their part, FSH and LH begin to decline. Bag or clean The ovary from which the oocyte, called a follicle, emerged degenerates and forms something known as the corpus luteum. Fertilization has not occurred and the body is already preparing for menstruation. All hormones begin to decrease.
menstruation It is triggered when all hormones in the cycle reach a minimum. The endometrium is no longer needed, so it is shed, causing typical menstrual bleeding. This is where a new cycle begins, as shortly after the follicular phase, estrogen levels begin to rise until they reach the peak at which ovulation occurs.
It’s not just menstruation in the brain: the whole cycle is involved
The 30 women who took part in this study had brain MRI scans during menstruation, ovulation, or the luteal phase. But it wasn’t just his brain that was analyzed. They also measured the level of each of the above hormones.
Thus, it has been observed that various hormonal changes cause changes in the body. volumes of gray and white matterand also in cerebrospinal fluidwhich acts as a shock absorber, protecting the brain from possible shocks.
In particular, it was observed that changes in white matter occurred after ovulation. This indicates faster information transfer between neurons and, in addition, are associated with increased levels estrogen and LH. On the other hand, when FSH rises, it gray matter one that thickens. After ovulation, progesterone causes a decrease in cerebrospinal fluid volume.
Therefore, as we have already seen, it is not only the changes caused by menstruation that occur in the brain. The entire menstrual cycle, combined with hormonal fluctuations, causes these changes in the brain.
How does menstruation affect the brain?
We have already seen the changes that occur in the brain during the menstrual cycle. But how do these changes affect cognitive ability or health mental and physical people who menstruate? It’s still a mystery. However, at least a step forward has been taken. Finally it was shown that there were more than tangible changes. These changes must mean something and they need to be studied because half the population may be facing mental health problems or stages where their cognitive abilities suffer simply because no one stopped to study it. Would we be like this if the other half of the population suffered from this? Everyone will think about their answer.
Source: Hiper Textual
