---
title: Does estradiol hormone level affect how the brain responds to sexual content?
description: Higher estradiol during fertile phases may make the brain more responsive to erotic words, but this very small study cannot confirm this effect.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/fluctuations-of-estradiol-during-women-s-menstrual-cycle-influences-on-2018/
---

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- Does estradiol hormone level affect how the brain responds to sexual content?

Non-randomised trial, 2018

# Does estradiol hormone level affect how the brain responds to sexual content?

Higher estradiol during fertile phases may make the brain more responsive to erotic words, but this very small study cannot confirm this effect.

 Early or limited evidence

19 young women with regular menstrual cycles

## What they did

Brain imaging study of 19 young women with regular cycles. Each woman tested three times: during follicular phase, around ovulation, and during luteal phase. During each test, they saw erotic and neutral words while brain activity was recorded using EEG. Hormone levels were also measured.

## What they found

Brain response (late positive potential) to erotic words was stronger than to neutral words in all three phases. During follicular phase and ovulation, higher estradiol was linked to stronger brain response to erotic words. Progesterone levels had no clear effect. Cycle phase itself did not significantly change brain response.

## What it means for you

Estradiol may increase how much attention the brain pays to sexual stimuli during fertile times. This is a very small study with indirect brain measures, so results need confirmation in larger groups.

19

Number of women

3

Cycle phases tested

Estradiol only

Hormone linked to brain response

## About the study

Original title Fluctuations of estradiol during women's menstrual cycle: Influences on reactivity towards erotic stimuli in the late positive potential Authors Munk AJL, Zoeller AC, Hennig J Journal Psychoneuroendocrinology Year 2018 Study design Non-randomised trial What was tested Exposure to erotic and neutral words during different cycle phases; hormone measurement Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.02.028](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.02.028)

## Topics

[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)

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