---
title: Does sexual interest change at different times of your menstrual cycle?
description: Women reported more sexual activity before ovulation, and sexual interest was connected to mood and energy levels rather than just hormones.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/women-s-sexuality-well-being-and-the-menstrual-cycle-methodological-issues-and-2011/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- Does sexual interest change at different times of your menstrual cycle?

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.

 Moderate study design

97 women, including some who were not sexually active

## 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](https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-010-9630-3)

## 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/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/)

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?

Study, 2026

What coping strategies help women manage PMS symptoms?

Study, 2026

What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder?

Systematic review, 2026

What life experiences and personal factors influence how severe PMS is?

Survey study, 2026

Is self-compassion linked to PMS symptoms?

Survey study, 2025

How do personality traits like neuroticism affect PMS severity and sexual satisfaction?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗