Social media buzz over ‘luteal uglies’ signals a shift in how women talk about hormones

A phrase spreading on social media describes the phase roughly two weeks before menstruation, after ovulation, when falling oestrogen levels can leave women feeling at their lowest. A Guardian columnist writes that the term reflects a broader generational shift in how openly women now discuss their menstrual cycles and hormonal changes.

From silence to openness

The columnist recalls that in the 1990s and early 2000s, sex education focused mainly on preventing teenage pregnancy, with little discussion of how hormones affect emotions. Many girls of that generation barely tracked their cycles, whereas young women today have access to numerous period-tracking apps and abundant online content about ovulation, the luteal phase, and how hormones influence mood, body image and sex drive. This growing openness also extends to postpartum experiences and later life, with perimenopause and menopause now discussed more widely too.

Knowledge as empowerment

The columnist argues that better understanding of hormonal cycles helps explain symptoms such as fatigue or negative body image during the luteal phase, or increased libido around ovulation. She notes that recognising her own premenstrual dysphoric disorder symptoms has helped her manage the emotional swings that occur monthly.

Caution amid the trend

The piece also warns of misinformation spreading alongside this openness and says educational curricula need to catch up. It points to past cases, including in the United States, where menstrual cycle data has been used against women’s interests, such as scandals involving period-tracking app data, and cautions that companies may try to market “fixes” for these natural hormonal phases.