Short cycles? Here’s why.
This last month, I essentially gave myself a short cycle.
And if you’re thinking, “I’m sorry, Lauren, are you crazy? You must be mad to think you have any control over the length of your cycle…” hear me out.
Before I tell you more about my 24-day cycle and what happened, it’s important to be grounded in how our menstrual cycle actually works. You know, the stuff they should have taught us when we were learning about our “changing bodies” in 5th grade—but conveniently left out or explained so dryly that it’s no wonder most of us grew up clueless about how to feel more in control.
Slowing down and nourishing your body — even simple habits like rest and a mindful morning can support hormone balance and cycle health.
The Female Reproductive Hormone Cycle
Here’s what’s supposed to happen biologically each month:
After your period ends, your pituitary gland sends a signal to your ovaries to prepare for ovulation.
A small group of follicles (immature eggs) begins to develop. These follicles produce estrogen, which helps build your uterine lining and cervical mucus in preparation for a potential pregnancy.
One follicle becomes dominant, taking over most estrogen production.
When estrogen peaks, another signal from your pituitary gland triggers ovulation—releasing an egg from that dominant follicle.
The follicle that released the egg transforms into the corpus luteum, which becomes the main source of progesterone during the second half of your cycle. Progesterone closes the cervix, dries up cervical mucus, and continues building the uterine lining for possible implantation.
If fertilization occurs, the egg travels to the uterus and implants. If not, the egg disintegrates within 24–36 hours, progesterone drops, and about 12–14 days later your uterine lining sheds—aka, your period begins and the cycle starts over.
Our Cycle Is Extremely Predictable
After ovulation, a healthy cycle produces progesterone for 12–14 days. This window allows enough time for a fertilized egg to travel through the fallopian tubes and implant before the next period starts.
So, when cycles are consistently short, the first place to look is the luteal phase (the time between ovulation and your next period).
Not everyone knows exactly when they ovulate, which is why learning to track it yourself—rather than relying on an app—is key.
Most apps (especially those that don’t use temperature or physiological markers like cervical mucus) rely on the rhythm method. They take your average cycle length and assume a standard luteal phase of 10–14 days to estimate ovulation.
But not all women have luteal phases that long, especially if PMS, acne, mood swings, or ovulation pain are in the picture. That means these apps can be way off for some people.
Even advanced tools like Oura or Natural Cycles aren’t perfect. My Oura Ring consistently predicts ovulation about two days earlier than my actual charted ovulation based on temperature shifts and cervical mucus observations.
The takeaway? Technology is a tool—but only as good as the data you give it. Your real symptoms, temperatures, and observations matter most.
So, How Did I “Give” Myself a Short Cycle?
In short: I got lazy.
It was a mix of letting key habits slide and dealing with some external stressors I couldn’t fully control.
Habits that took a back seat this month:
Eating before workouts – I wasn’t super hungry and felt fine during workouts, so I slacked on this rule.
Prioritizing 30g of protein per meal – I stopped being as intentional.
Cutting caffeine – I started drinking it again, which affected my sleep and appetite.
Getting to bed on time – I joined a choir (which has been so fun!) but led to later nights that became my new normal.
Other factors that didn’t help:
A flight – Always stressful on the body.
Illness – My kids’ noses have basically been fire hydrants lately.
Environmental exposure – Mold remediation in our garage likely stirred up some irritants I breathed in.
The result? My luteal phase was 8 days.
Ten is borderline low. Twelve to fourteen is ideal.
Eight is a red flag waving from my body to slow down. It’s a clear sign of low progesterone, which can cause painful periods, acne, and mood swings.
I’m not beating myself up. I’m simply taking note and making some changes to help rebalance my hormones this month.
Here’s What I’m Doing About It
Getting my air ducts cleaned – I want to eliminate anything lingering from the mold exposure.
Eating first thing in the morning – No more fasted workouts.
Recommitting to 30g of protein per meal – I’m weighing portions to make sure I’m fueling properly, especially on active days.
Going to bed earlier – Prioritizing rest and recovery.
Caffeine (for now) – I’ve kept my espresso because, honestly, decaf doesn’t hit the same. If my cycle length doesn’t improve, I’ll revisit this.
If You Have Short Cycles, Here’s What to Look At
1. Ovulation day:
When is it happening? Ovulation typically occurs the day before your temperature shows a sustained rise or on your peak cervical mucus day (the last day you see egg-white/slippery mucus when wiping).
2. Luteal phase length:
Count the days from after ovulation to the day before your next period. If it’s shorter than 10 days, your progesterone likely needs support.
3. Bleeding quality:
How heavy or light is it? What’s the color and consistency? These clues reveal a lot about your overall hormone health.
If anything feels off, know that there’s so much you can do to get back on track without complicated protocols, HRT, birth control (unless you choose that route), or spiraling through endless doctor visits.
The Basics Aren’t Glamorous, But They Matter
Eat enough of the right foods.
Sleep enough.
Drink enough water.
Rest, find joy, and carve out quiet time (especially this time of year).
And if you’re tracking your cycle and want someone trained to review it with you, schedule a free consult. I’d love to look it over with you and share my perspective.
Until next time,
Lauren