Menstrual cycle hormones: a simple chart of what rises and falls
Four main hormones run the menstrual cycle. FSH from the brain grows follicles; the growing follicle makes estrogen, which peaks before ovulation; an LH surge releases the egg; then the corpus luteum makes progesterone, which peaks about a week later. If there's no pregnancy, estrogen and progesterone fall, your period starts, and FSH rises again. These shifts also shape mood, energy and sleep.
The four main cycle hormones
| Hormone | Made by | Main job |
|---|---|---|
| FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) | Pituitary gland in the brain | Wakes up and grows follicles in the ovaries |
| Estrogen (mainly estradiol) | The growing follicle, later the corpus luteum | Builds the uterine lining, makes fertile mucus, triggers the LH surge |
| LH (luteinizing hormone) | Pituitary gland | A sudden surge releases the egg (ovulation) |
| Progesterone | Corpus luteum after ovulation | Readies the lining for implantation, raises body temperature |
Above them sits GnRH, a signal from the hypothalamus that tells the pituitary when to release FSH and LH. The whole system is a feedback loop: the brain talks to the ovaries, and the ovaries' hormones talk back. Testosterone is also made in small amounts and rises a little mid-cycle.
Hormone levels through the cycle
Here's what each hormone does phase by phase, in an example cycle of about 28 days. In longer or shorter cycles, it's mostly the follicular phase that stretches or shrinks; the luteal phase stays around 12 to 14 days.
| Cycle days (approx.) | Phase | FSH | Estrogen | LH | Progesterone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 5 | Menstrual | Rising | Low | Low | Low |
| 6 to 12 | Follicular | Falling | Rising steadily | Low | Low |
| 13 to 15 | Ovulatory | Small peak | Peaks, then dips | Surges | Starting to rise |
| 16 to 22 | Early to mid luteal | Low | Second, smaller rise | Low | Rising to a peak about 7 days after ovulation |
| 23 to 28 | Late luteal | Starting to rise | Falling | Low | Falling fast |
How the hormones talk to each other
- Low estrogen and progesterone at the end of a cycle let FSH rise.
- FSH grows a group of follicles; one becomes dominant and pumps out estrogen.
- Rising estrogen at first holds FSH and LH back (negative feedback).
- When estrogen stays high for about two days, the brain switches to positive feedback and releases a big LH surge.
- LH releases the egg and turns the follicle into the corpus luteum.
- The corpus luteum makes progesterone and estrogen for about two weeks, holding FSH and LH low.
- Without a pregnancy hormone (hCG) to keep it going, the corpus luteum fades, hormones fall, the lining sheds and the loop starts again.
What these hormones do to mood, energy and body
| Hormone | Effects many people notice |
|---|---|
| Estrogen rising | More energy and motivation, lighter mood, clearer and more hydrated skin, wetter discharge |
| Estrogen peak | Higher libido, confidence, social energy for many |
| Progesterone high | Warmer body (about 0.3 to 0.5 掳C), sleepier, hungrier, sore breasts, slower digestion |
| Both falling | PMS for many: irritability, anxiety, low mood, cravings, bloating, headaches, breakouts |
| Both low (period) | Relief from PMS for many; tiredness and low energy for some |
An important detail: people with PMS don't have different hormone levels from people without it. Research suggests some brains are simply more sensitive to the normal rise and fall, especially of progesterone's calming brain metabolite and estrogen's effect on serotonin. That's why two people with the same hormone curve can feel completely different. See luteal phase mood.
You can't see your hormone curve, but you can see what it does. Lulu's one-tap daily check-in builds a picture of how you usually feel at each point in your cycle.
Can you test your cycle hormones?
- LH tests (ovulation kits) detect the surge in urine, 1 to 2 days before ovulation.
- Basal body temperature indirectly shows progesterone: a sustained rise means ovulation has happened.
- Blood tests from a doctor: FSH and estradiol early in the cycle (around day 2 to 5), and progesterone about 7 days before your expected period to check you ovulated.
- Home hormone panels exist, but a single result is hard to interpret without timing and medical context.
What changes the hormone pattern
Hormonal contraception (most methods stop ovulation and flatten the curves), pregnancy and breastfeeding, PCOS (often higher LH and androgens, irregular ovulation), thyroid conditions, high prolactin, under-eating or very intense exercise, and perimenopause (bigger, less predictable estrogen swings) all change the usual pattern. More in the menstrual cycle phases, ovulation phase and luteal phase.
See a doctor if your cycles are often shorter than 21 days or longer than 35, if your periods stop for 3 months or more, if you have signs of high androgens (acne, extra hair growth, scalp hair thinning), if you've been trying to conceive for 12 months (6 if you're 35 or older), or if premenstrual symptoms disrupt your life.
Frequently asked questions
What hormones control the menstrual cycle?
Mainly FSH and LH from the brain's pituitary gland, and estrogen and progesterone from the ovaries, all coordinated by GnRH from the hypothalamus.
When is estrogen highest in the cycle?
Just before ovulation, in the late follicular phase. There's a second, smaller rise in the mid-luteal phase.
When is progesterone highest?
About 7 days after ovulation, in the mid-luteal phase. That's why progesterone blood tests are timed for then.
Which hormone causes PMS?
No single hormone. PMS seems to come from some brains being more sensitive to the normal fall in estrogen and progesterone before a period.
What hormone triggers ovulation?
A surge of LH, triggered when estrogen has been high for long enough. Ovulation follows about 24 to 36 hours after the surge begins.
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic: Menstrual Cycle (Normal Menstruation): Overview & Phases
- Cleveland Clinic: Luteinizing Hormone
- Cleveland Clinic: Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
- Cleveland Clinic: Progesterone
- Schmidt PJ et al. Differential behavioral effects of gonadal steroids in women with and in those without premenstrual syndrome. NEJM (1998)
This page is for information only and isn鈥檛 medical advice. If something worries you, please talk to a doctor.
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