The cycle: a vital sign in its own right
According to Laurène Sindicic, the menstrual cycle is not just about fertility: it reveals information about overall health. She points out that it is now regarded as a fifth vital sign by the American association of gynaecologists, on a par with blood pressure, temperature or heart rate.
A balanced cycle already offers several markers: a length of 21 to 35 days, less than 7 days’ variation from one cycle to the next, periods lasting 2 to 7 days, mild to moderate pain, mucus that changes progressively, and a sufficiently long luteal phase.
Understanding the hormonal mechanics
The cycle begins in the brain: the pituitary gland controls the ovaries via FSH and LH. Laurène Sindicic distinguishes three phases.
Follicular phase
Oestrogen levels rise, the follicles grow, and one of them becomes dominant.
Ovulation
The dominant follicle releases the egg. In some women, this moment comes with mid-cycle pain known as Mittelschmerz.
Luteal phase
The corpus luteum secretes progesterone, which prepares the endometrium. It generally lasts 11 to 16 days; below 10 days, the speaker suggests investigating further.
The role of oestrogen and progesterone
Oestrogen thickens the endometrium. Progesterone, meanwhile, stabilises it, dries the mucus, slightly raises temperature and calms the nervous system. According to Laurène Sindicic, insufficient progesterone often shows up as heavy periods, clots, spotting, marked premenstrual syndrome, mucus returning after ovulation, or a luteal phase that is too short.
The three biomarkers of the symptothermal method
The symptothermal method relies on signs that can be observed day to day, read together.
Cervical mucus
Produced by the cervix under the effect of oestrogen, it changes from a dry texture to an egg-white type mucus, highly stretchy, a sign of high fertility. According to the speaker, this fertile mucus can keep sperm alive for up to five days.
Basal temperature
Progesterone raises the temperature by around 0.3 degrees, producing a biphasic curve. Laurène Sindicic stresses that temperature confirms ovulation, it does not predict it.
The cervix
Low, closed and firm during the infertile period; high, soft and slightly open during the fertile period.
What the cycle reveals about health
Read carefully, the cycle points to several possible imbalances. Heavy periods or clots suggest insufficient progesterone; strong premenstrual syndrome suggests a drop in progesterone or an oestrogen to progesterone imbalance; low basal temperatures can, where the context supports it, suggest hypothyroidism. Amenorrhoea often signals a lack of resources: calorie deficit, intense exercise or significant stress.
Progesterone, stress and cortisol
Laurène Sindicic points out that progesterone and cortisol share a common precursor, pregnenolone. When the body mobilises a lot of resources to produce cortisol, less remains for progesterone. The cycle is, in fact, often the first function to be paused when the body has to prioritise between competing demands.
Approaches discussed for supporting progesterone
Levers mentioned by the speaker include working on the quality of ovulation, supporting healthy lifestyle habits, reducing stress, using certain plants and, depending on need, considering bio-identical hormones within suitably tailored support. The two plants she cites as best known for supporting progesterone are lady’s mantle and chasteberry, the latter requiring more caution as it acts on the pituitary gland.
Oestrogen dominance and xeno-oestrogens
Oestrogen dominance can stem from an excess of oestrogen, a relative shortfall in progesterone, or exposure to xeno-oestrogens found in certain endocrine disruptors. The approach then focuses on reducing exposure, helping to reduce excess oestrogen, and supporting progesterone.
Reliability: contraception and trying to conceive
According to Laurène Sindicic, when correctly taught and applied, the symptothermal method reportedly achieves 98.2% reliability for contraception. When trying to conceive, it helps target the fertile window without needlessly increasing the frequency of intercourse, since sperm can survive for several days.
Irregular cycles remain readable
The symptothermal method relies on day-to-day observation, not prediction. It therefore remains useful even when stress, heat or fatigue affect the cycle. In this spirit, the speaker actually talks about delayed ovulation rather than a late period.
Taking it further in consultation
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