How Winter Messes with Your Period (Yep, It’s a Thing)

If you’ve noticed your period acting all weird in winter, let us tell you – you’re not imagining things.

Turns out, your menstrual cycle isn’t immune to the cold. From worse cramps to irregular cycles, winter does some sneaky stuff to your body!

So, grab your heating pad, and let’s dive into the why & how of winters wrecking your🩸vibe.

 

❄️Winter = fewer daylight hours = less vitamin D

The "sunshine vitamin" keeps your bones happy and your hormones balanced. 🌻

When your vitamin D dips, your reproductive hormones (like estrogen and progesterone) can start acting up, making your period irregular or longer.

So, if your period’s gone MIA or is playing hide and seek, the winter sun—or lack of it—might be to blame. 🥺

Then there’s melatonin—the sleepy-time hormone your body makes when it’s dark.

Winter’s long nights mean more melatonin, which is great for napping😴 but not so great for keeping your period on track. Too much melatonin can interfere with ovulation. So, if your cycle’s all over the place, thanks, winter. 😪

 

❄️Cramps Are Worse? Of Course They Are

If your cramps feel like they’ve cranked it up a notch during winter, you’re not imagining things. Cold weather can shrink your blood vessels (yep, even the ones down there), reducing blood flow to your uterus and making cramps feel more intense.🫠

Basically, it’s like a cramp apocalypse. Science backs it up, too—a study in Menstrual Disorders found that women reported worse cramps during colder months. 😓

The good news? Exercise can help. I know, it’s freezing, but even light activity increases blood flow and releases endorphins—your body’s natural painkillers. 🌸

If the fear of leaks are getting in the way, we gotchu covered – Lace Bikini & the Hip Hugger are customer favourites for workouts, since their padding goes all the way back!

So, maybe consider a quick stretch instead of curling up under a blanket for 12 hours straight. Maybe.

 

❄️SAD Times, Literally

Winter doesn’t just mess with your body; it messes with your brain, too. Enter Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), that fun little bout of winter-induced melancholy. 😩

Stress from this increases your cortisol levels, which can throw off your hormones and lead to irregular periods.

We’ve all experienced this first hand too – when we’ve had a stressful month, our cycle tends to skip a beat! Plus, more painful PMS. 🩸

 

❄️Comfort Food? Not as comforting to cramps

Winter has a way of making you crave all the comfort foods— hot mac and cheese, anyone?

Here’s the catch though: Diets high in salt & sugar can make your period worse.

🍕Salt = Extra bloating

🍩Sugar = Blood sugar crashes

So swapping out a gooey brownie for a few bites of dark chocolate can help ease cramps. Still a win, right?

 

❄️How to Survive the Winter Period Chaos

So, what can you do to survive winter’s assault on your period? Here’s the quick survival guide:

1. Get some sun: If you can’t, consider a vitamin D supplement. Your hormones will thank you.

2. Stay active: Even a little bit of exercise can help reduce cramps and keep your hormones balanced.

3. Eat smarter: Swap the salty, sugary snacks for foods rich in magnesium. (Yes, chocolate counts.)

4. Stay warm: Heating pads, hot baths, cozy blankets—whatever keeps you warm will help those cramps chill out.

Winter might throw your menstrual cycle off its game, but with a few smart moves, you can keep it from totally ruining your vibe. 💃🏽

And hey, just remember—spring is right around the corner!🌸