Differences in mood before and after ovulation

[OatALot]

From near the end of my period to ovulation I am full of energy and enthusiasm and can get so much done. After ovulation I hit such a massive slump. I can't be bothered with anything, I'm tired and don't want to be around people and everything annoys me from the way clothing feels to having to do anything. It's all such as effort. The change is just so big.

I eat well, force myself to do the exercise I normally love. How can I stop it beinging a slog and for it to be like the first half of my cycle all the time? It's holding me back.

I don't take the pill and I'm 43.

I'm exactly the same....I'm happy and reasonably productive for two weeks then grumpy and exhausted for two weeks. The actual day before my period, I'm so tired I could sleep all day and so miserable. As soon as I get it I feel like a new woman! Would love to know if there's a miracle cure

Yes, the exhaustion is dreadful just before.
I swear I could rule the world before ovulation, but can't be arsed with anything after.

Not useful advice here because I’m exactly the same.

I'm exactly the same, I also have alot of anxiety and my mood is very negative then as soon as I take my period the anxiety starts to dwindle and my mood becomes more positive. The two weeks after my period I am at my happiest then its a gradual decent downhill again

Yes. I get a lot of self doubt but I know its the hormones but it's still very hard to control and stop the negative self talk that then dissapears when my period starts.

I'm 43 and feel exactly the same. Mood swings are more intense too. Thinking of trying the combined pill to see if helps. Not that hopeful!

Be interesting to hear if anyone has combated this. Thing is, will the pill impact the good weeks? I came off it a decade or so ago as the one I was on just put me in a bad mood all the time.

I’m exactly the same. I often wonder whether men feel as I do pre-ovulation all the time, if they do that explains a lot! I’m considering the pill to level me out as I can’t take the up and down anymore. Maybe evening primrose would help?

My husband is in his 50s and has always had a huge energy level. Seems unfair to me.

Hmm, interesting.

I hated the pill after I came off it because I didn't realise how much it flattened my emotions. But now after two years off it, I realise how "charged" I am around ovulation.

I don't know the answer, but I do get riled when I see posters here say "don't blame it on your hormones" - because in my experience there is a distinct pattern.

I'm 42 . Exactly the same as you ! I came of the mini pill and had the coil fitted hoping it would help ... it didn't .
Those few weeks a month are actually ruining my life .
So glad you started this thread will be watching with interest.

Those few weeks a month are actually ruining my life

It's practically half a year really isn't it. I don't feel depressed with it but the situation itself makes me feel very unhappy. It's hit today and I feel like my brain is foggy. Going to order evening primrose and try that. Are GPs experienced with this or do they just send you on your way with a prescription for the pill?

There's an American sports scientist, Lyle McDonald, whose work I have found illuminating. Every two weeks, women completely change dominant hormone (which men do not). I listened to this interview while running and I was like, shit, no wonder I feel like shit today.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=6846ZTBu08k

@OatALot

Those few weeks a month are actually ruining my life

It's practically half a year really isn't it. I don't feel depressed with it but the situation itself makes me feel very unhappy. It's hit today and I feel like my brain is foggy. Going to order evening primrose and try that. Are GPs experienced with this or do they just send you on your way with a prescription for the pill?

I in the other hand feel extremely depressed , lethargic . Even trying to make dinner is really hard work at those times . Bloody hormones 😫

I woke up today feeling fantastic and shaking my head at the total shitstorm that was a lot of October, before remembering how much of it was probably hormones and that I have the same to look forward to in a week or so, I'm just at the end of my period. I don't have any advice but you are totally not alone and I am desperate to know if there is anything that has helped people with this. I feel so sad and fed up at the huge change in my for two weeks of every month, it's such a huge pain in the arse. I feel like a different person and so tired, not just physically but mentally as though I just can't be bothered with it all. First few weeks of my cycle I'm like a squirrel on acid. It's so crushing, the contrast between the two states.

Exactly the same as me Rhbuarbtea. Feel so pissed off I'm just entering this stage.

Exactly the same OP.

Nothing helpful to add, but thank you for posting, it’s good to see this is common! I stopped taking the Pill because it always made me feel like I do post-ovulation (didn’t realise at the time); although I understand why it wouldn’t work, I wish they could formulate it to recreate the first half of the cycle! I’d rule the world with that level of energy (and it would be quite nice actually to have a libido more than half the time )

I’m the same. Plus horrible physical symptoms (abdo pain, bloating, tenderness) just after ovulation. It was awful and I was so irritable I would shout at my kids when they really didn’t deserve it, be planning to leave my husband, be so grumpy and unmotivated, and I just felt really really depressed. And then when my period came I was back to myself. The up and down-ness of it was really messing with my head.

I had every gynae test going for physical symptoms, and nothing untoward was found. I was offered antidepressants for those two weeks, but I thought I’d try the pill first, because I knew ADs wouldn’t help with the physical symptoms. I’ve been taking Eloine, which is a very low dose combined pill and is licensed for pms. It’s been great. I’ve tried other pills and really not got on with them at all (microgynon just made me sick) but this one is fabulous. I honestly wouldn’t be without it now.

I feel exactly the same - for half the month everything is doom and gloom and I can’t even remember ever having felt happy 😂 if anyone knows of anything that can help with this then I would love to know!

Microgynon was what I was on years ago. And yes, every month I plan to leave DH and don't want him hear me, period arrives and I wonder what the hell I was thinking. I recognise the irratability so try to rationalise it but it's hard!

I'll take a look at what you are taking. I was also on a pill for years until they realised I shouldn't have been due to a type of migraine I use to have.

I have been wondering about this in relation to my teen girl's moods.

You need a b complex vitamin. And extra iron (chelated). Take every day, by month 3 you will feel more balanced.

Plus omega oils. That combo keeps me right. If I forget to take any for more than a few days I just sleep and sleep. It's awful.

I get mine from just vitamins. Cytoplan are probably the best but pricey vitamins.

Just bumping this again as I approach ovulation and start to quietly lose my marbles. Has anyone else had any luck with supplements, diet change etc - and what helped you? It's so unfun feeling like this.

I was thinking the exact same thing today. I feel amazing leading up to ovulation. I am so much more productive and articulate, I feel so much more motivated. And then before my period I am so sluggish and I have such low mood.

Interestingly when I did IVF I had to take oestrogen tablets (the ones given in HRT) I remember feeling better, like I'd had a boost. The consultant said this was a very common side effect. It got me wondering if anyone would prescribe it for my PMT.