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Education · Cycle phases

Your body has a rhythm. Work with it.

A practical guide to your menstrual cycle, what is happening in each phase, what helps, and what Blossom Wings recommends along the way.

A 28-day rhythm

Four phases. One cycle.

Hover or tap each phase to see what is happening in your body, and what to expect.

1 7 14 21 Your cycle 4 phases

Note: cycle length varies, typical range 21–35 days. The 28-day model is the average.

Meet your inner seasons

Your body has four seasons, just like the year.

Modern women's health reframes the cycle as inner seasons, a softer, more embodied way to understand the rhythm. Winter to rest. Spring to begin. Summer to bloom. Autumn to slow down.

Winter

Menstrual phase · Day 1–5

Welcome to your winter, the rest you've earned. There's nothing here to push through; your only job is to be gentle with yourself.

What is happening

The first day of bleeding marks day 1 of your cycle. Estrogen and progesterone are both low, which is why energy often dips and emotions can run closer to the surface.

Your uterine lining sheds. Flow is heaviest on days 2 and 3, lighter on days 4 and 5. Mild cramping is common.

What helps

  • Rest when you can, especially the first two days
  • Iron-rich foods (dates, spinach, lentils)
  • Hydration
  • Gentle movement, walking, light stretching

Winter is the one season your body asks for protection, and every day of it is a little different.

Light days: Day Pads 180mm, for the start and tail of your period
Full days: Day Pads 260mm, the all-day workhorse
Long nights: Night Pads 330mm, dry through eight hours
Heaviest days: Comfort Panties, no belt, no backup, just confidence
Shop your winter →

"Rest isn't falling behind. It's how you begin again."

Spring

Follicular phase · Day 6–13

Ah, you're in your spring, the easy, uphill part. This is the season to say yes, while your body's cheering you on.

What is happening

Your period has ended. Welcome to the energetic part of your cycle, for most women, the easiest.

Estrogen rises steadily as your body prepares an egg. Energy returns. Mood lifts. Skin often looks clearer. A strong window for harder workouts, creative work, and new projects.

What helps

  • Complex carbs and lean protein
  • Strength training and cardio feel easier
  • Schedule harder conversations and bigger tasks

A good week to

  • Start the project you've been circling
  • Book the harder workout, your body can take it now
  • Have the conversation you've been putting off
  • Say yes to something new

"This is your green light. Use it."

Summer

Ovulation phase · Day 14–16

Your summer is short, but it's your brightest, the days you feel most like yourself. Take up space and enjoy it.

What is happening

The shortest phase, but the brightest one. An egg is released from the ovary, traveling down the fallopian tube.

Estrogen peaks just before ovulation, then drops. Cervical mucus becomes clearer and stretchier. Some women feel a one-sided twinge (mittelschmerz). Basal body temperature rises slightly.

What helps

  • Stay hydrated, discharge often increases
  • Track this window if you're trying to conceive, or avoiding it
  • Body temperature rises 0.3–0.5°C, a marker, not an alarm

A good week to

  • Put yourself in the room, you're at your most magnetic
  • Schedule the big thing: the pitch, the date, the presentation
  • Move while it feels effortless
  • Reach out and connect, you're warmest now

"You're in full bloom. Let it show."

Autumn

Luteal phase · Day 17–28

Autumn is the slow exhale before your next cycle begins. Be gentle with yourself, this is a season to soften, not to push.

What is happening

The longest part of the cycle, and the one most associated with PMS. A time to slow down and prepare.

Progesterone rises after ovulation. If you don't get pregnant, both progesterone and estrogen drop in the final days, which is what triggers your next period. PMS symptoms (mood changes, cravings, breast tenderness, bloating) often peak in the final 5–7 days.

What helps

  • Magnesium-rich foods (dark chocolate, almonds, leafy greens)
  • B vitamins for energy and mood
  • Less caffeine and sugar in the final week
  • Gentle movement over intense workouts
  • Sleep is non-negotiable

A quiet reminder while you're here: your winter is on its way. This is the perfect week to make sure you're stocked before it arrives, get ready for winter →

"Slowing down is preparation, not weakness."

Across every phase

Caring for your cycle.

Small habits that make every phase easier.

  • Track your seasons

    Even a simple notebook reveals patterns in 2–3 months. Note your energy, mood, and flow against the season you're in.

  • Honor each season

    Winter asks for rest. Summer asks for connection. The seasons aren't equal, and they're not meant to be. Plan around them where you can.

  • Choose what touches your skin

    Vulvar skin is thinner and more absorbent than most of your body. Organic cotton, fragrance-free, gentle, what we built our brand around.

  • Hydrate through every season

    Especially in the Gulf summer. Water supports every phase, from energy to skin to cramps.

  • Talk to other women

    Sisters, friends, mothers, daughters. The silence around periods is the problem, not the period.

Important

When to see a doctor.

Most cycle variation is normal. But some patterns deserve professional attention.

  • Cycles consistently shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 days.
  • Bleeding heavier than 80 ml per period (changing a pad every 1–2 hours for several hours).
  • Periods lasting longer than 7 days.
  • Severe pain that interferes with daily life. Bad cramps are common; debilitating cramps are not normal.
  • Bleeding between periods or after sex.
  • Sudden changes from your normal pattern that last more than 2–3 cycles.

A GP, OB-GYN, or women's health specialist can help. Saudi MOH has women's health clinics across the Kingdom. Conditions like endometriosis, fibroids, or PCOS are treatable, but only if diagnosed.

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