Do our periods change with the seasons?

With the start of the new season, there are a lot of changes. You might feel the urge to donate half your wardrobe, look for a new apartment, a new job… or literally anything new. That’s just what springtime does to us. We feel full of possibility and want to be refreshed. With all these changes, are your periods changing as well? We decided to investigate to see if our periods are changing alongside us this springtime. 

Overall, it’s true; periods can change with the seasons. Seasonal changes impact this by affecting our mood and metabolism. As some of you may have felt with the grim winters throughout the pandemic, our mood is really closely linked to the amount of sunshine we get. This can be particularly tricky with a period. It has been suggested that ovarian activity is higher in the summer as opposed to winter. This is likely due to the fact that sunshine helps increase the secretion of ‘Follicle Stimulating Hormone’ which helps to regular reproductive functions of the body. According to the journal Gynecol Endocrinol, there was a trend that shows that 97% FCH was found in the summer versus 71% in the winter. Likewise, there are shorter menstrual cycles by about 0.9 days. 

Another reason why our periods are probably different in the spring and summer is because when the weather is generally warmer and nicer, we tend to, as humans, want to spend time moving around outside. Exercising is a way to alleviate period pain and this movement, that is generally higher in warmer seasons, can be a reason why periods are shorter and less painful. Moving around, although you might not want to do it in the moment, definitely helps with PMS symptoms. 

Finally, climate change is affecting the metabolic rate of our bodies. Bodies need time to readjust to different climates so it needs time to adjust to different seasons as well. The good news is that with the warmer temperatures, we as menstruators are in for a treat: easier & less painful periods.