First off, when I say cycle, I mean the whole of the menstrual cycle. That being the length of time from the start of one period to the start of the next period. This is often referred to as a 28-day cycle. But because many of you have a cycle that isn’t 28 days, I don’t like to describe it this way. Those of you with a cycle that’s on the short side usually want it to be longer. And those of you with a cycle that goes on and on and on usually want it to be shorter. Me talking about a 28-day cycle isn't’ going to help, it’s likely to add to any worries that you already have. So I won’t be doing that. She’ll help you discover the power of your cycle so that you can use it to get what you want out of life. And this might be stating the obvious, but I’m going to say it anyway. It’s not that you can’t or won’t experience these, let’s call them states of being, at other times in your cycle. Though for some of you this may be the one time, or one of the times in your cycle when you feel and act this way. There are also other ways that these behaviors can be harnessed that have nothing to do with procreation. But today we’re keeping our focus on reproduction. Okay, I hope you realize I’m just having fun with this, but you get my point. In the run up to ovulation your hormones want you out in the world. And in the second half they want to keep you safe. So, in the second half of the cycle you might be more interested in your internal world more than the external world.

Visit maisiehill.com/podcastlaunch to learn more about the contest and how to enter. I’ll be announcing the winners on the show in an upcoming episode. Then there’s the toll of all the emotional labour and unpaid work that you’re probably doing, the years of people pleasing, of saying yes when you really meant no, of hustling your way through life trying to succeed and achieve, often skipping meals in the process. So you might notice things like sleep issues, night sweats, irritability, and then these things can become more significant and appear at other points in your cycle, not just around the time that your period starts. And this can happen in your late 30s and certainly in your 40s. And that’s why I’m so passionate about talking about this and a big reason of why I wrote my new book, because we really need to be talking about perimenopause way in advance of actually getting there because that way we can be proactive about it and have a better experience.

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And then when your energy slumps at the points in the cycle where hormone levels are low you know that it’s because your hormone levels are low. Okay? It’s pretty simple, right? But it’s pretty effective. And oh my God, the sleep issues that become more prevalent as we age, let’s not forget about the impact of them on mental health too. So there are a multitude of reasons why mental health can suffer but I don’t think it’s coincidental that our risk of suicide is highest when oestrogen drops off around the time of menopause. Have you ever wondered what perimenopause is and how to know if you're experiencing it? If so, today's episode is for you. Now, if you’ve read my book, Period Power, then you know I’ve got a lot to say about the menstrual cycle and how it impacts life. But what’s going on in your life also shows up in your cycle. And I wanted to start this podcast so that we can really explore all of these topics. Because apparently a book that was 124,000 words wasn’t enough for me to really explore these things. Maisie Hill has written a bloody brilliant book (pun intended). Everything you need to know about periods and how they affect you and your life is here. It's revolutionary' - Miranda Sawyer

Now, because I want to keep this as straightforward for you as possible I’m going to be making some sweeping generalizations. And because I’m going to be oversimplifying this, I have to tell you something upfront. What I describe may or may not reflect your experience of your cycle. The timing of events in your cycle and how you feel may be slightly different, or very different, to what I’m about to describe. They may be different to your BFF’s or sister’s experience of their cycle, or for that matter mine. That doesn’t mean that yours is wrong. All it means is that you have a unique experience of your cycle and your hormones, and that’s true of every person with a cycle. Okay? To learn more about perimenopause, we’re playing a game of true or false! I’m giving you seven beliefs around menopause, before sharing some information about them and telling you whether they’re true or false. Get ready to play along!Immediate DNF after the introduction and reading the disclaimer, “Not everyone who is a woman has a menstrual cycle or womb, and not everyone who has a menstrual cycle and a womb is a woman”. I’m sorry, but my trust in the reliability of your science ends there. The menstrual cycle and womb are literally THE primary biological markers of womanhood. If you’re going to deny that basic fact just so you don’t offend some people, you don’t have the credibility it takes to write a book on the menstrual cycle. I am a woman, not a “menstruator”, not a “person with a period”, and I will save my time for a book that appreciates the God-given uniqueness of my female biology/physiology.