# most of the research on the menstrual cycle focuses on a 3 phase model > "most of the prior research informing our practices with athletes tends to rely on a three-phased model with the assumption of steady-state hormone levels existing; menstruation (low sex hormones, early follicular), pre-ovulation (high oestrogen, late follicular) and luteal (high oestrogen and progesterone)."[[(Bruinvels et al., 2022)#^23ryk]] - the research that we have only focusing on the steady state hormone levels - we assume that if things are not like in the research then something must be wrong