Woman thanked by thousands for showing what she looks like during her monthly cycle

Emma Gilligan, a fitness influencer, has been praised by thousands of women for showing how her body changes during different phases of her monthly cycle. Emma regularly shares body positivity content, aiming to help women feel more confident and comfortable in their skin.

In one TikTok video, she shows how her body changes during the menstrual, follicular, ovulation and luteal phases of her menstrual cycle. The length of a menstrual cycle varies from woman to woman, with the average lasting around 28 days.

However, some may be longer or shorter, ranging from 23 to 35 days, which is also common, according to the NHS. There are four main phases of the menstrual cycle.

Emma's video captures her in the gym during the different phases of her cycle, where her belly alters in each phase. She captioned the post: “You gained the knowledge of what happens in each phase so became more accepting of your body."

She added: "The first half of our cycle, we typically feel our best. Energy and strength are high, and water retentionand cravings are low.

"The second half of our cycle is typically the opposite of the above. And that can change how we view our bodies. Body dysmorphia and negative self talk can increase around this time so it’s important we remember this and be more conscious to be kind to ourselves and our bodies.

“This is a very brief overview of our cycle so please remember to find YOUR normal as we are all magical and unique. You’re worthy of love and confidence in every phase of your cycle my honey.”

Emma’s post has since been shared to X, formerly known as Twitter, where women across the world expressed their thanks. Suki said: “WOW seeing this on someone else has healed me."

Another replied: “Every time my mental health gets so bad during my luteal phase and I get so depressed, luteal phase is hell.” Mel agreed: “The luteal phase is the worst!

"Increase bathroom breaks during sleep, causing restless sleep on top of that, and fatigue during the day.” Venus wrote: “I don’t even recognize my own face during the luteal phase. Like who the hell is this? And the fatigue, stomach issues, and body heaviness are just evil!”

Deanna said: “I’m in the Luteal phase right now and I never understood it because this week I feel like I need a workout plan but next week I won’t need anything but a biscuit. Confused as hell." Wassupredbone added: “It’s crazy how we can be bloated one day and totally normal the next.”

Phases of the menstrual cycle

Menstrual - Common known as a period, this is when your uterus lining sheds and flows out of the vagina. The average length of a period can last between three to seven days.

Follicular - According to Better Health, the follicular phase starts on the first day of your period and lasts for 13 to 14 days, ending in ovulation. The pituitary gland in the brain releases a hormone to stimulate the production of follicles on the surface of an ovary. Usually, only one follicle will mature into an egg. This can happen from day ten of your cycle.

Ovulation - This is when a mature egg is released from an ovary and moves through the fallopian tube towards the uterus. This usually happens once each month, about two weeks before your next period. Ovulation can last from 16 to 32 hours.

Luteal - After ovulation, cells in the ovary (the corpus luteum), release progesterone and a small amount of oestrogen. This causes the lining of the uterus to thicken in preparation for pregnancy. If a fertilised egg implants in the lining of the uterus, the corpus luteum continues to produce progesterone, which maintains the thickened lining of the uterus.