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.
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
Topics
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