---
title: Does sexual desire and function change during the menstrual cycle in women with PMS?
description: Yes. Women with premenstrual symptoms reported less sexual desire and less frequent sexual activity before their period than at other times in their cycle.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/assessment-of-sexual-functioning-during-the-menstrual-cycle-1999/
---

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- Does sexual desire and function change during the menstrual cycle in women with PMS?

Survey study, 1999

# Does sexual desire and function change during the menstrual cycle in women with PMS?

Yes. Women with premenstrual symptoms reported less sexual desire and less frequent sexual activity before their period than at other times in their cycle.

 Early or limited evidence

115 women with premenstrual symptoms (24 completed follow-up visits at multiple cycle phases)

## What they did

Cross-sectional study of 115 women with premenstrual symptoms who answered questions about sexual desire, frequency of sexual activity, and satisfaction. Twenty-four women returned for follow-up visits at different points in their menstrual cycle.

## What they found

Women assessed during the late luteal phase (before their period) reported less desire to have sex and had sexual activity less frequently than women assessed at other cycle phases. Among the 24 women who returned for follow-up visits, those assessed premenstrually reported fewer and less satisfying orgasms compared to when assessed at midcycle.

## What it means for you

Sexual desire and satisfaction drop in the week or two before menstruation in women with premenstrual symptoms. This is based on what women reported about themselves, which shows what they experience but does not explain why it happens. Only 24 women completed follow-up visits, so the findings about changes in orgasm are based on a small group.

115

Women studied with premenstrual symptoms

24

Completed follow-up assessments at multiple cycle phases

## About the study

Original title Assessment of sexual functioning during the menstrual cycle Authors Clayton AH, Clavet GJ, McGarvey EL et al. Journal Journal of sex & marital therapy Year 1999 Study design Survey study Participants 115 What was tested None. Observational questionnaire study. Read the paper [doi.org/10.1080/00926239908404005](https://doi.org/10.1080/00926239908404005)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Libido and sexual function](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sexual-function/)

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## Related studies

Systematic review, 2024

Do SSRI antidepressants help treat PMS and PMDD?

Randomised trial, 2008

Does the antidepressant escitalopram taken only during the luteal phase reduce PMDD symptoms?

Randomised trial, 2005

Does fluoxetine improve sexual drive and desire in women with PMDD?

Cohort study, 2004

Do women with PMS have worse menopausal symptoms?

Randomised trial, 2003

Do SSRIs (antidepressants) help PMDD?

Randomised trial, 1988

Does dydrogesterone help premenstrual symptoms in real-world practice?

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