Our Periods and the Five Senses

 

We all know the menstrual cycle has a powerful impact on how we feel. We've all experienced how "hormones" seem to dictate our moods. And while that may sound like a tired stereotype, it’s rooted in scientific truth: the two main sex hormones—estrogen and progesterone—play a major role in shaping our emotional and physical state throughout the month.

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Estrogen and Progesterone: The Hormonal Dance

The menstrual cycle begins on the first day of bleeding, when hormone levels are at their lowest. The uterus sheds its lining, preparing for a new cycle. Around a week later, signals from the brain stimulate the production of estrogen, which rises steadily until ovulation around day 14. At that point, estrogen drops, ovulation occurs, and progesterone takes over for the second half of the cycle. If the egg isn’t fertilized, progesterone levels drop again, prompting the next period.

This hormonal rhythm influences everything—from mood and cognition to how we experience the world through our senses.

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Sense by Sense: How Our Cycle Affects Perception

The Pre-Ovulation Power Surge

The days leading up to ovulation are a high point. Estrogen peaks, and so do we. We feel confident, focused, inspired. Our hearing, smell, and vision are sharper, memory is stronger, and even our skin and hair look their best. We're more magnetic, thanks to increased pheromone production.

This is the time to schedule big meetings, give talks, go on exciting dates, or dive into creative work. You'll likely feel the flow.

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Hearing: Heightened before Ovulation

Women naturally have a more acute sense of hearing than men, and estrogen enhances this further. Research shows that in the days before ovulation, we can detect softer sounds more easily. During menstruation, when estrogen levels are low, this sensitivity drops—aligning perfectly with our desire for quiet and solitude. The body, once again, knows what it’s doing.

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Smell: Sharper Before Ovulation

Many women notice their sense of smell intensifies before ovulation—so much so that some can tell where they are in their cycle just from scent sensitivity. Studies even show fertile women are more sensitive to scents like musk than menopausal women.

 

Vision: More Acute before ovulation

Vision appears to sharpen during ovulation. A 1978 study found that women had better visual acuity mid-cycle compared to other times. Interestingly, women on hormonal birth control (with steady hormone levels) showed no such fluctuation. Another small study from 1980 suggested that better vision might be linked to a rise in body temperature after ovulation (when progesterone dominates), though findings remain inconclusive.

 

Menstruation: A Time of Sensory Withdrawal

During menstruation, our sensory sensitivity generally decreases. We may notice reduced hearing, smell, and visual acuity. Pain sensitivity increases. We often crave comfort foods—rich in fat and carbs—and naturally retreat to our inner world.

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Touch & Pain: Sensitivity Rises Before Bleeding

Studies on pain and touch sensitivity across the menstrual cycle are limited and mixed, but many indicate a drop in pain threshold (i.e., increased sensitivity) in the days before menstruation. One study measured spinal cord reflexes and found women were significantly more sensitive to pain just before bleeding. Not surprisingly, this sensitivity was closely tied to emotional state.

So if you find that you’re more easily hurt or irritable, both physically and emotionally, there’s a biological reason. This is not the time to book waxing appointments or high-stress events. Instead, give yourself space, be gentle, and allow the quiet.

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Taste & Appetite: That Familiar Craving

Right before menstruation, calorie intake rises sharply—particularly for carbs and fats. Studies show we may consume up to 61% more calories in the second half of the cycle. This isn’t a lack of willpower—it’s the body preparing for the amount of blood it's going to lose, and it needs quick calories.

And interestingly, taste preferences change too. A 1998 study found that estrogen (around ovulation) increased the desire for sweets, while progesterone (post-ovulation) correlated with a preference for bitter flavors. Men, for comparison, showed no hormonal impact on taste.

Gentle Conclusions

The menstrual cycle isn't just about fertility—it's a full-body, sensory experience. Understanding how our hormones shape our senses helps us move through the month with greater compassion, planning, and self-awareness. Rather than fighting our rhythms, we can learn to work with them, align our lives with our natural flow, and honor the brilliance of our changing biology.