Connective Tissue & Female Hormone QUESTION

[liveonearth]

K told me (and it seems that it is well known) that women are more likely to strain their tendons and ligaments immediately before their periods, that is, during the end of the luteal phase when progesterone and estrogen from the corupus luteum are declining and near (or at) their nadir, and FSH and LH are low as well. So, can anyone explain to me what the relationship is between the female cycle, hormones and connective tissue?

Thanks in advance.

Comments

[liveonearth.livejournal.com]

I cross posted this a little to get more responses, and here's the first:

Actually right before your period progesterone levels are high; they drop right about the day before you bleed. Progesterone softens tissues, that's part of the equation. Thus in early pregnancy (when levels are very high) bleeding gums can be an issue, or heartburn due to the relaxed digestive system.

And my response:

Thank you! So it is the progesterone bump before the period that softens tissues.....CT and other tissues? Muscle? Bone? And then when you start bleeding, the prog drops precipitously, and then you are no longer at such risk for strains/sprains? Am I getting this right?

[liveonearth.livejournal.com]

Her reply:

I don't know that for most women it makes a big enough difference to want to change your routine, but if you notice you are sensitive to the hormonal flux then yeah you would probably notice it switch back to normal one or two days into your period.

I think it mostly affects connective tissue, so far as I know there's no effect on bones.