{"id":4949,"date":"2021-04-10T00:51:52","date_gmt":"2021-04-10T04:51:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.music.mcgill.ca\/mpbs\/?p=4949"},"modified":"2021-04-22T23:39:22","modified_gmt":"2021-04-23T03:39:22","slug":"menstrual-cycle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.music.mcgill.ca\/mpbs\/2021\/04\/10\/menstrual-cycle\/","title":{"rendered":"Menstrual Cycle and the Voice"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

The new phrase \u201cPeriod jokes aren\u2019t funny. Period\u201d is a movement to give women respect about the fact that there are many \u201cside-effects\u201d to menstruation. In aiming to remove the sexist side of \u201cPMS\u201d jokes, women are reclaiming the scientific side of menstruation. <\/em>There is still so often a taboo around discussing menstruation, and singing is no exception. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
“Day 220: Body Parts”<\/a> by ♥KatB Photography♥<\/a> is licensed under CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Before understanding what happens to the voice exactly, let’s look at the menstrual cycle itself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every body is different and there are many factors which can change this “typical” cycle. For the purposes of this blog, “healthy” cycles of 21-45 days with 3-7 days menstruation (called eumenorrhea<\/strong><\/strong>) will be discussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

[toggle title=”Want to know more about menstrual cycle hormones?”]<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n
\n

The menstrual cycle begins on the first day of menstruation.<\/span><\/p>\n

The first half of the ovarian cycle is called the FOLLICULAR phase.<\/span><\/p>\n

1) the hypothalamus (brain) releases gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) which is sent to the anterior pituitary gland (still brain!). Gonadotrophs are hormones targeted for the gonads: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). (In the testes, FSH is responsible for sperm production, and LH stimulates testosterone.)<\/span><\/p>\n

2) the anterior pituitary gland releases FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) which travels to the ovaries and stimulates the growth of the ovarian follicles, which grow the ovum (egg). FSH also encourages the follicular cells to produce estrogen.<\/span><\/p>\n

OVULATION typically happens around day 14, the middle of the cycle.<\/span><\/p>\n

3) the anterior pituitary gland then gives bursts of LH (luteinizing hormone) which are also sent to the ovaries. These bursts increase until the level of LH is high enough to release the egg from the ovary. FSH, LH and estrogen are all at their highest points just before ovulation (see pink, blue and grey lines).<\/span><\/p>\n

The second half of the ovarian cycle is called the LUTEAL phase.<\/span><\/p>\n

4) once ovulation has occurred and the ovum is released, the follicle which released the egg begins to grow the corpus luteum. The corpus luteum’s main job is to produce and release hormones, which are necessary for the egg to successfully implant in the uterine lining. LH is what stimulates the corpus luteum to grow, and to produce progesterone.<\/span><\/p>\n

5) Progesterone increases throughout the luteal phase, and is in charge of thickening the lining of the uterus. If the egg is fertilized and successfully implanted in the lining, pregnancy occurs. If it is not, the corpus luteum shrinks, and progesterone drops away (see purple line).<\/span><\/p>\n

6) towards day 28, all the hormones are at their lowest point, and the endometrium drops, beginning menstruation and the cycle all over again (Hypothalamus and Pituitary Gland, anatomy.tv).<\/span><\/p>\n

Isometrik, CC BY-SA 3.0 https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/3.0<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[\/toggle]<\/p>\n\n

[toggle title=”How does the body know to release an egg?”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Jacqueline Woodley<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

How does the body know when to release the egg?<\/em> Using negative and positive feedback loops. Let’s use the above example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The brain (hypothalamus) releases a hormone (gonadotropin) which stimulates another gland (the anterior pituitary gland) to secrete its own hormones (luteinizing hormone LH <\/em>and follicle stimulation hormone FSH<\/em>). FSH then travels down and stimulates growth in the ovaries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The follicle in the ovary produces estrogen which then cycles back to the pituitary gland to tell it that it can stop<\/span> <\/em>the production of FSH (this is called the negative feedback loop<\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Around days 12-14, the estrogen released also encourages<\/span><\/em> the pituitary gland to release LH and more estrogen (positive feedback loop<\/strong>). When the LH peaks around day 14, the egg is released. Voil\u00e0! (Then repeat until menopause!)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

[\/toggle]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

So\u2026 am I wrong? Or is my voice worse just before my period?<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Premenstrual Syndrome, or PMS is a legitimate medical phenomenon. Sadly, it is too often treated as \u201ca social construct which delegitimises, disempowers, and disenfranchises women, particularly with respect to women\u2019s agency over their emotions and actions\u201d (Kaye 2020, 60).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To start, let’s define the three main syndromes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n

[infobox color=”#bcbcbc” textcolor=”#bf3a2b”]PMS – Premenstrual Syndrome<\/strong>[\/infobox]<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n

[toggle title=”What are the symptoms?”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n