https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy0jk6wjkn0o

"Is it just me or am I the ugliest person alive?" a woman in her early 30s asks the camera on TikTok, accompanied by the caption "POV: Girls in their luteal phase."

The video has 2.4 million views and hundreds of comments.

"This is literally me," one woman writes. "I'm angry at how accurate this is," another says.

There are thousands of videos like this one on social media, lamenting the "luteal uglies" - the changes in appearance and mood that women say appear during the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle.

During this phase, which occurs in the second half of a woman's cycle and ends when she gets her period, women experience a huge drop in oestrogen. So are the "luteal uglies" a real thing?

According to Dr Louise Newson, a GP and women's hormones specialist, this change in hormone levels means women can experience a shift in their appearance, sleep and mood during this time.

"Our 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," Newson explains. "They might get bloating and breasts can change shape."

In one video, which has 2.4 million views, a young woman asks: "Ladies, what do you do during your luteal phase to feel better?! I honestly can't cope any more."

There are thousands of comments, with one follower suggesting to "wear baggy clothes and avoid the mirror", and another saying "eat chocolate".

Another writes that the luteal phase makes her "avoid my husband", while someone else says they cope by watching television "with a bottle of wine".

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5888952&forum_id=2/#50041898)