How does synchronization affect women's menstrual cycles? Think back to college, or to growing up if you had sisters. Most women who live with or near other women adjust their menstrual cycle timing to match each other. A recent study at the University of Chicago exposed a group of women to a whiff of perspiration from other women. It caused their menstrual cycles to speed up or slow down depending on the time in the month the sweat was collected: before, during or after ovulation. This was the first proof that people produce and respond to pheromones.
Pheromones are airborne chemical signals produced by glands in the skin, which among animals often give each other information about sex and reproduction.
 |
| Pregnancy After Infertility |
So you may find that you have tendency to tune in to other cycles in your environment, such as the cycles of the women you work or live with. It seems natural to have your hormonal cycle synchronized with your personal lunar rhythm; it is not always the case.
WHICH CYCLE SHIFTS?
Your lunar cycle is, of course, fixed. But your hormonal cycle is constantly affected by all manner of influences. Stress, trauma, travel, ill health, sudden changes weight or diet, drugs taking or excessive exercise are some of the things that can change the timing of ovulation.
The menstrual cycle is affected by both conscious and subconscious processes. To reprogram your cycle, you should work on both conscious and subconscious processes. (Be aware that your cycles can shift.)
Working on Conscious Processes
Working on conscious processes basically involves:
- Becoming aware of the hormonal rhythms of your body
- Avoiding situations which change your hormonal cycle (stress, diet, sudden changes in your environment etc)
- Charting your lunar peak dates
You're probably aware that our brain works across a range of different levels or brainwave frequencies. While the range is actually continuous, it is divided convenience into four categories - beta, alpha, theta and delta.
As adults, we spend most of our waking time in the beta area. As we become more relaxed (e.g. as we fall asleep at night), our brain waves slow measurably, and we move into what is known as a theta state, or sleep. Beta is where we do our logical thinking and rationalizing. Alpha, on the other hand, while still an "awake" state, is that relaxed, daydrearny state that you can go into when you are doing something creative (e.g. painting, sewing) or something repetitive (e.g. jogging, driving long distance on open roads). It's the time when your mind just wanders freely, and time just seems to fly by.
So you're wondering what this has to do with menstrual cycle, right?
EVERYTHING! You see, your alpha or sub-conscious state is about feelings and emotions. If you are going to do any emotional strengthening, you need to work in the alpha state (which is where the feelings and emotions happen) rather than the beta state (which is where rational thinking occurs).
 |
| Pregnancy After Infertility |
Remember that when you are in an alpha state, time just goes by with ease; you are not aware of the passing of time. An alpha state is the time when you are having a pleasant conversation with your friend, when you are cycling or walking, knitting, listening to nice music, etc: this is considered to be an alpha state. Any time you are relaxed and feeling good and peaceful is an alpha state.
So, by being in a relaxed alpha state more often will help you synchronize your hormonal cycle with your natural lunar cycle so you can identify your fertile time more easily. To find out more, you can check out Pregnancy After Infertility.
