{"id":1185,"date":"2026-08-03T01:48:40","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T01:48:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/what-are-the-luteal-uglies-and-how-theyre-affecting-women\/"},"modified":"2026-08-03T01:48:40","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T01:48:40","slug":"what-are-the-luteal-uglies-and-how-theyre-affecting-women","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/what-are-the-luteal-uglies-and-how-theyre-affecting-women\/","title":{"rendered":"What are the ‘luteal uglies’? And how they’re affecting women"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Across social media, a new wave of women are candidly sharing a deeply relatable experience: the sudden, inexplicable feeling of being \u201cthe ugliest person alive.\u201d In a viral TikTok video with 2.4 million views, a woman in her early 30s stares into the camera, captioning the moment with \u201cPOV: Girls in their luteal phase.\u201d The comments flood in with agreement: \u201cThis is literally me,\u201d one writes. \u201cI’m angry at how accurate this is,\u201d says another.<\/p>\n

These videos are part of a growing online conversation about the \u201cluteal uglies\u201d \u2013 a term women use to describe the noticeable changes in appearance, mood, and overall well-being that strike during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. This phase, which spans the second half of the cycle and ends when menstruation begins, is marked by a dramatic drop in oestrogen. But is this phenomenon grounded in biology, or is it just a social media trend?<\/p>\n

The Science Behind the \u201cLuteal Uglies\u201d<\/h2>\n

According to Dr Louise Newson, a GP and women’s hormones specialist, the \u201cluteal uglies\u201d are very real. The hormonal fluctuations during this time can trigger a cascade of physical and emotional shifts. \u201cOur hormones affect our skin, they affect our collagen, so a lot of people find their skin becomes drier, their complexion not so bright, they might have acne and spots,\u201d Newson explains. \u201cThey might get bloating and breasts can change shape.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr Helen O’Neill, an associate professor in reproductive and molecular genetics at University College London, adds that when oestrogen falls in the days before your period, progesterone rises. This hormonal shift ramps up oil production in the skin, leading to breakouts. Simultaneously, your body retains more fluids, which can result in a puffier face, general bloating, and tender, swollen breasts.<\/p>\n

Real Women, Real Experiences<\/h3>\n

Elena Spaven, a 25-year-old actress and hospitality worker in London, can relate all too well. She says she feels \u201cextremely bloated\u201d during the second half of her cycle. \u201cMy skin feels dull and textured and just looks more tired in general, and my chest feels heavier and sore.\u201d<\/p>\n

But the effects go beyond appearance. Elena describes feeling lethargic and \u201ccompletely unmotivated\u201d during her luteal phase. \u201cI feel like my brain is working in slow motion, I tend to become clumsy and way more forgetful,\u201d she says. \u201cI don’t want to socialise as much and I feel low.\u201d<\/p>\n

Newson notes that while women are increasingly talking about the impact of their cycles, many still feel at a loss. \u201cThese women are genuinely suffering and it’s affecting their ability to work, function, socialise and just exist,\u201d she says. The response from others can also be dismissive. \u201cWould you say to a man ‘Oh your testosterone is down, just don’t go to the gym, have a duvet day?’ It’s unacceptable that women have to put up with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beyond the Mirror: Mood, Relationships, and Work<\/h2>\n

The luteal phase doesn’t just change how you look in the mirror; it can also alter your interactions with the world. Henrietta, a 30-year-old freelance journalist, finds that her relationships bear the brunt of her symptoms. \u201cIf I find myself wanting to get irritated with my wonderful, hilarious, chilled out partner there’s an extremely high chance I haven’t had my coffee, haven’t eaten or that I am in my luteal phase,\u201d she says. It also affects her friendships: \u201cWith my friends, I tend to either overshare and regret it, or isolate myself from them and regret it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018Despair and Distress\u2019<\/h3>\n

For some, the emotional toll is severe. Henrietta experiences a sense of \u201cdespair and distress\u201d during her luteal phase, including feeling useless or having \u201cintense flashbacks to embarrassing or upsetting experiences.\u201d Her symptoms, which also include blurry vision and struggling to recall \u201cbasic words\u201d in conversation, can be embarrassing at work. She wishes there was more awareness: \u201cThere are still widespread misconceptions surrounding how and why hormones impact women’s health and wellbeing.\u201d When her period finally arrives, she feels relief.<\/p>\n

Newson emphasises that the luteal phase is not something women can simply \u201csnap out of.\u201d Many are wrongly made to feel their symptoms are normal or that they are overly emotional. Charlotte Dodds, a 36-year-old business owner and mum-of-two, says people often dismiss these symptoms as \u201cjust PMS.\u201d Her symptoms \u2013 bloating, spots, and a lack of concentration \u2013 can be a \u201cbig knock\u201d to her confidence, especially when working with clients. She runs a business community called Baking Bosses, which helps people build baking businesses from home. \u201cBut when you’re self-employed, like I am, your calendar can’t just stop because your hormones are changing.\u201d<\/p>\n

How to Cope with Luteal Phase Symptoms<\/h2>\n

More education and open discussion about menstrual cycles are vital, says Elena, who only learned about the luteal phase through social media at age 24. O’Neill agrees, noting there is \u201cso little education that women receive about the fundamental aspects of how their bodies work.\u201d This gap in knowledge has driven many to seek advice on TikTok, where videos asking for coping strategies amass millions of views and thousands of comments \u2013 from \u201cwear baggy clothes and avoid the mirror\u201d to \u201ceat chocolate.\u201d But not all advice is helpful; some suggestions, like turning to alcohol, may actually worsen symptoms.<\/p>\n

So what can genuinely help?<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Understand the phase:<\/strong> Recognising that the luteal phase is a \u201cpredictable, temporary phase\u201d is important, says O’Neill.<\/li>\n
  • Focus on nutrition:<\/strong> Staying hydrated can help reduce puffiness, and easing off salty foods can make a difference.<\/li>\n
  • Limit alcohol and processed foods:<\/strong> These can increase inflammation, Newson explains. Reducing alcohol intake and keeping up movement can also help.<\/li>\n
  • Advocate for yourself:<\/strong> If you’re struggling, see a health professional. Newson encourages women to persist: \u201cIf people don’t get what they think is acceptable in the first, second, third, appointment they should go and see someone else. These symptoms don’t usually go on their own.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    The \u201cluteal uglies\u201d may be a trending topic, but for millions of women, it’s a monthly reality. By understanding the science, sharing experiences, and seeking practical support, women can navigate this challenging phase with more confidence and less self-blame.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Across social media, a new wave of women are candidly sharing a deeply relatable experience: the sudden, inexplicable feeling of being \u201cthe ugliest person alive.\u201d In a viral TikTok video with 2.4 million views, a woman in her early 30s stares into the camera, captioning the moment with \u201cPOV: Girls in their luteal phase.\u201d The…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1178,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1185","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1185","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1185"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1185\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1178"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1185"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1185"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1185"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}