We've all heard the stories about period syncing—that mysterious phenomenon where women living or working together supposedly start menstruating in unison. While our previous article broke down why the science doesn't actually support this popular belief, it raises an important question: If your bestie's cycle isn't influencing yours through magical period pheromones, what is actually affecting your menstrual timing? Let's dive into the real factors that can throw your cycle...

So there you are, enjoying a girls' night in when someone suddenly announces, "OMG, I just got my period!" Then it happens—like a twisted game of menstrual dominos—someone else pipes up: "Wait, I started mine yesterday!" And another: "Mine came this morning!" Cue the dramatic music. You've just experienced the phenomenon known as "period syncing"—that mysterious biological event where women who spend time together supposedly start menstruating in unison, like...