--- title: Does emotional response to sexual images change during the menstrual cycle? description: Yes. Women show more positive emotional reactions to images of nude men during the early part of the cycle compared to the later part. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/why-we-haven-t-died-out-yet-changes-in-women-s-mimic-reactions-to-visual-erotic-2009/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does emotional response to sexual images change during the menstrual cycle? Lab study, 2009 # Does emotional response to sexual images change during the menstrual cycle? Yes. Women show more positive emotional reactions to images of nude men during the early part of the cycle compared to the later part. Moderate study design 35 healthy women ## What they did 35 healthy women had two facial muscle recording sessions (EMG). One session happened in the early part of their cycle, the other in the later part. Researchers showed them pictures of nude men or animals and measured the muscle activity responsible for expressing joy. ## What they found During the early cycle phase, significantly more joy muscle reactions were observed compared to the later phase. This effect was only found for pictures of nude men, not for animal pictures. ## What it means for you Women's positive emotional response to sexual images increases during the early part of the menstrual cycle when fertility is highest. This may help explain why sexual interest naturally rises around ovulation. The study is small and only measured one emotional response in one context. 35 women studied 2 facial muscle recording sessions per woman early phase time of stronger joy reactions ## About the study Original title Why we haven't died out yet: changes in women's mimic reactions to visual erotic stimuli during their menstrual cycles Authors Mass R, Hölldorfer M, Moll B et al. Journal Hormones and behavior Year 2009 Study design Lab study Participants 35 Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2008.06.007](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2008.06.007) ## Topics [Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Libido and sexual function](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sexual-function/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Randomised trial, 2025 Does mood, well-being, and sexual function change across the menstrual cycle? Survey study, 2026 Are women with PMS more likely to have sexual dysfunction? Survey study, 2021 How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect women's menstrual cycles and symptoms? Survey study, 2016 Does hormonal birth control affect sexual desire across the menstrual cycle? Study, 2011 Does sexual interest change at different times of your menstrual cycle? Randomised trial, 1993 Does oral contraceptive help PMS and affect sexual interest? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗