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.

Does anyone else turn into a sex maniac around ovulation? For a few days I’m like a horny teenager, can’t get enough!! But then the week before my period I get so incredibly low and anxious. It’s a rollercoaster for sure

Google PMDD. It all fits. It’s a pain. I can tell I’m about day 13/14 of my cycle as I feel a dip in mood.

Wow, sorry you are all suffering but I'm so glad it's not just me! Was thinking it couldn't be pms as it starts about day 14 or so. I also feel dreadful on day 1 of my period as they are heavy and painful but quickly start to feel better.

Great thread OP. I suffered with this through most of my 30s and after trying alternatives I took Prozac. It significantly took the edge off the depression, irritability and anxiety.
Peri menopause can cause it so it’s worth looking into HRT too.

It’s so annoying feeling euphoric for two weeks then rock bottom depressed for however long it takes for my period to start. It must be amazing to be a man and be on an even keel week after week.

I've started taking Evening Primrose so will see but in my post ovulation phase and feel shit. Just no ommph, no energy, brain fog and over thinking.

Hi All, I've been the same since my mid thirties, i guess once I'd had my children and didn't start back on contraceptive pill. First 2 weeks after my period lots of energy, then a slump in mood for 2 weeks after ovulation and the usual physical pmt symptoms. I've gotten the mirena 5 months ago and it hasn't made a huge difference, I think the anxiety has subsided though. I was also offered prozac a couple of years ago, didn't take it though. I found acupuncture definitely helped, but I stopped that during the pandemic and haven't recommenced. I kinda plan my life around it now tbh, for example I wouldn't engage in social gatherings,or organise hectic family events in those 2 weeks pre mentrual, where possible. Same approach with housework and groceries I try to get a good few bits done and be well organised the 2 weeks when my mood and energy is good. In general I exercise 3-4 times a week and try to eat fairly well, and to prioritise sleep. No other advise but it's helpful to read the experiences of others here.

I was prescribed estrogen patches to be used for 14 days per month after ovulation, they worked a treat at stopping the miserable progesterone dominance that caused the problem. Then came menopause and I have to take progesterone as part of an HRT regime, it's so awful and relentless every month, I'm contemplating stopping HRT.

I’m the same though just before ovulation I feel bloated and get ovulation pains

The few days after ovulation I used to feel full of confidence and a sex goddess I had so much confidence then I would gently come down

Now peri menopausal I get all the symptoms but none of the boost of confidence or feeling amazing just tired and old

@Rina66

I was prescribed estrogen patches to be used for 14 days per month after ovulation, they worked a treat at stopping the miserable progesterone dominance that caused the problem. Then came menopause and I have to take progesterone as part of an HRT regime, it's so awful and relentless every month, I'm contemplating stopping HRT.

Did you have to ask for them or did the GP offer? As I mentioned in my PP I really felt great taking oestrogen during IVF but I haven't yet been to my GP, I'm worried they won't get it and I'll be prescribed antidepressants instead.

@Crabbyboot they were offered to me but not by my GP. I saw a private consultant at Bupa and had to pay - he explained to me what the problem was. I've listened to Dr Nick Panay on a podcast talk about giving girls as young as 16 estrogen to help with their PMT. My GP only offered me anti depressants even though the problem was clearly cyclical.

I am exactly the same.

Just Before ovulation I am happy / really fancy my husband/ want sex / energetic / fun / glowing

Then after ovulation and a right misery 😬

This is the podcast, listen from 20 minutes in, they talk about treating PMS in young women with estrogen.....

thedrlouisenewsonpodcast.podbean.com/e/menopause-is-a-public-health-issue-with-nick-panay/

@Rina66 thank you, will give that a listen and hopefully arm myself with some information before my GP visit!

There's a book called It's Not My Head It's My Hormones - I read it and thought some of this could be hokum some could be useful. One of the big things in it is extra iron and magnesium, which I took for two months and I definitely noticed a difference. So much so that I ran out a few weeks ago, been too busy to buy more but have been snappy and anxious and feeling shit since. I'm going to go back on magnesium and test it out for another few months.

But how could iron supplements be hokum, when we all loose iron every single month? I thought it made perfect sense to me.

Vitamin B complex and omega oils I just tried in desperation and they help massively too

Yep me too.

45 yrs old. Last 10 days to 2 weeks of my cycle are miserable.

Got an appt next week to discuss HRT.

Have a look at cycle syncing. Alissa Vitti has a few books/ webpage on it. Basically they claim it’s normal for women to feel different at different parts of our cycle due to hormones and we should be doing different activities and eating different foods etc at the different parts of a cycle. They claim you will feel better if you are in sync with your cycle but I can’t say if it works because I haven’t got round to trying it. I really struggle with my moods and energy levels so am really hoping something will work!

I do definitely find things easier if I am not fighting the latter two weeks of my cycle like a salmon swimming upstream. That's not always possible though depending on life commitments, study, single parenting etc. When I sometimes get a wave of tiredness around ovulation I do try and rest as much as possible over those three or so days - the tiredness doesn't happen every month though.

I'm going to take some magnesium which I have and think about buying some B vits and omega oils.

I really struggle with this. Also with feeling really ill during my period - not just cramps but exhausted, sore throat, headaches, lightheaded. It feels like having flu for a week each month. And I just want to eat sugar and refined carbs. Planning on ttc within the next year so I don’t want to take hormonal bc. I have cysts on my ovaries so that probably doesn’t help.

I think its great that so many of us have recognised this pattern in ourselves, less so that we seem to have to suffer.

I also find that my pelvic floor muscles are also affected by the change in hormones

I am currently taking magnesium and Starpowa Meno balance and since taking them religiously I do feel I haven't been as bad.

My appointment to discuss HRT with the Dr is on Friday and now I am unsure what I want from him as whenever I have had hormone treatment they have made me feel worse.

I was the same for years. I tried b vitamins, evening primrose, agnus castus, diet, exercise. Admittedly I didn't try any of them for long enough probably. But anyway, didn't get much effect from any of it.

After a particularly horrible bout of mood swings I decided I had to take control, so I went to the GP asking for the pill and explained why. I had avoided the pill for years but couldn't go on like it.

She suggested an anti depressant instead, one that is helpful with anxiety. It has done the trick and I have never looked back.

I hope you all find your answers - it is horrible!

Something else I thought of - does anyone else get awful nausea around ovulation day? I get so queasy! Feels like I got into my mid 30s and my periods went mad

I have been feeling tentatively better the last few days after starting a multivit, extra iron and magnesium tablets. That could be because of a change in hormones but I am still a way off my period so am feeling hopeful. I'm going to be religious about taking them daily for the next 6-8 weeks and monitor whether I feel as bad around ovulation next month. Oh and today I added in high strength omega oils as well. In for a penny, in for a pound

I'm two days into my period and feel the energy returning. I am going to try and focus on working with my cycle while I find a way to reduce the effects of the second half.

I have started evening primrose but already took magnesium, b vitamins etc.

We have a menopause event at work and I'm going to ask about this.