Ovulation and the Cycles of the Moon

The potential correlation between a woman’s menstrual cycle and the moon is fascinating, if sadly lacking in scientific fact. Although much of the information on this topic tends to be the stuff of fairy tales, perhaps, for some women, there is a stronger link between the two. Just don’t get too caught up in believing claims around “ovulation cycle moon” which sound too farfetched to be true. They probably are.

In Latin, the word “menstruation” (or menses) and the word “moon” are linked. Perhaps it is an accident of nature or just pure coincidence that the moon takes almost 28 days to revolve around the earth, the same length of time most women have in their menstrual cycle. The study of anthropology has examined the tendency in traditional societies for women to ovulate when the moon is full and to have their period when the new moon has evolved.

A lack of light source at night and reliance on the moon as a primary source of illumination is thought to be an important factor in all of this. But none of it is clear cut or even proven. If you’re trying to conceive, running around the backyard when there is a full moon is unlikely to do much for your fertility. However, it may if your partner thinks you look particularly inviting and this leads to more earthly desires.

Some people follow the teachings of a Czech psychiatrist, Dr. Eugene Jonas. He developed a theory on peak fertility times. He felt the most fertile time for a woman was dependent on the relationship between the sun and the moon at the moment she was born. This means that according to Dr. Jonas’s teachings, you are at your most fertile time when the moon is at the same phase as when you emerged yourself.

Melatonin, the sleep hormone

What we do know is that the sleep hormone melatonin seems to be influenced by lunar light. It also seems likely that bright light, such as sunlight in the morning, helps to promote more regular menstrual cycles. Sunlight is also useful in producing adequate levels of vitamin D in the body and this helps to maintain fertility in women of childbearing age. It is thought that women who have sufficient sunlight each day have stronger and more regular menstrual cycles. We do know that sunlight is necessary to maintain a strong and healthy immune system. In young children who are having difficulties regulating a day and night pattern of sleep, also known as a circadian rhythm, one recommendation is to expose them to small amounts of filtered sunlight each day. Melatonin peaks in women when they are having a period and is at its lowest point when they have ovulated. Melatonin also helps luteinizing hormone to be produced in the luteal phase and works with progesterone in raising a woman’s temperature. It is also helpful in promoting the ovarian follicle to maturity and helps to do the same with sperm. There is no harm in subscribing to the lunar ovulation philosophy. Getting in touch with your body’s cycles and being more attuned to nature is generally a good thing. But like anything else, taking it to the extreme and becoming obsessed while ignoring other, more scientific and evidence-based forms of information is not advisable.

How to get in touch with Mother Earth