Study, 2011
Does sexual interest change at different times of your menstrual cycle?
Women reported more sexual activity before ovulation, and sexual interest was connected to mood and energy levels rather than just hormones.
What they did
97 women tracked their sexual behavior across their menstrual cycles. Researchers measured when women ovulated using hormone tests. They also studied women who were not sexually active to compare. They looked at how emotional well-being was connected to sexual interest and activity.
What they found
Women, including those who were not sexually active, reported increased sexual behavior before ovulation. Sexual activity was connected to libido and was higher when women had positive mood and energy, and lower when they had premenstrual mood changes. Masturbatory behavior was predicted by libido and having an energetic or creative mood.
What it means for you
Sexual interest varies across your menstrual cycle and is connected to your overall mood and well-being. This suggests that both biology and your mental state matter for sexual interest. The main limitations are that this was a small group of women with unknown variation in their menstrual patterns, and the way ovulation timing was measured may not have been perfectly accurate in all cases.
97
women in the study
About the study
- Original title
- Women's sexuality, well-being, and the menstrual cycle: methodological issues and their interrelationships
- Authors
- Brown SG, Calibuso MJ, Roedl AL
- Journal
- Archives of sexual behavior
- Year
- 2011
- Study design
- Study
- Participants
- 97
- What was tested
- None - this was an observational study tracking natural variations
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1007/s10508-010-9630-3
Topics
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