Woman addresses the awful things menstruating people go through during their luteal phase

The luteal cycle, a phase that often remains shrouded in mystery and misunderstood by many, has recently taken center stage in the world of social media. A video posted on TikTok by Sam—who goes on the platform with the username @sam_d0ll—ignited a conversation that resonated with individuals worldwide who menstruate. In her video, she candidly shared the common experience of waking up one day feeling utterly unattractive and, to her surprise, discovered that this phenomenon was not unique to her.

The luteal phase is a crucial part of the menstrual cycle, spanning approximately two weeks between ovulation and the onset of menstruation. During this period, hormonal changes play a significant role in influencing a woman's physical and emotional state. While describing her own experience, she said, "When I woke up this morning and looked in the mirror and saw an 85-year-old woman that grew up in trenches, I thought - 'Interesting. I don't remember going to war.' Then I realized it's that phenomenon that's happening where I'm suddenly the ugliest person I've heard of."

With respect to a wider demographic, she humorously pointed out that during this phase, women may feel irritable and bloated and their faces may appear different in shape. It is a time when cravings are insatiable and the mirror often seems unkind. She said in her video, "During this phase, our hormones are just plummeting and all of a sudden, we are irritable, we are more bloated, our faces look all different shapes and we're mean as hell. Feel fat but also so so so hungry and you know what?" And that's when she decided to say something shocking that popped into her head.

As she observed, the luteal phase can lead to a cascade of feelings and physical changes that may catch women off guard. However, she wanted to dive deeper into the science behind this phenomenon to gain a more comprehensive understanding. And when she did, she was just shocked. While the luteal phase has long been associated with various theories, some of which claim that it served an evolutionary purpose, Sam raises valid questions. She quips, "You're gonna tell me that half the population spends half of their lives in a fu**ing delusion where they're angry and think their face is a different shape because of natural selection, survival of the fitness? Um, I should not be naturally selected."

While taking insights from her own life, she adds, "For example, today I woke up and thought I was a different person. Evolution is supposed to benefit us, like we gain traits that'll help us like, fingernails and opposable thumbs and shit. Like, what the hell does a luteal phase do for anybody?" Furthermore, she raises the question of whether this cycle, accompanied by memory lapses regarding its occurrence, serves any real purpose in the grand scheme of evolution. It is indeed a thought-provoking inquiry into the role of the luteal phase in human development.

Women in the comment section came together in solidarity and shared their stories. @mrsusanfangirl said, "The whole 2 weeks of my luteal phase I'm convinced I'll start my period the next day because nothing else could possibly explain why I feel so incredibly sh*t, and then after a week I’m like oh okay this is just how I am now. and then eventually my period comes and everything makes sense again." @mireillegionet added, "I spend a lot of unnecessary money on my Luteal Phase. Now I know the pattern and I try hard to control myself."