Can Your Period Affect Your Sex Drive?

Let’s break down exactly how your period and libido are linked, how hormones affect your desire, and why things like period anxiety and depression can sometimes complicate your relationship with intimacy.

Do Hormones Really Control Your Sex Drive?

Short answer? Yes.

Your libido is not just about mood or attraction; it’s also about biology. Throughout the month, your body moves through different phases of the menstrual cycle. Each phase comes with unique hormonal changes during your menstrual cycle, influencing everything from energy levels to sexual desire. 

The key players in this process are estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Understanding how hormones and sex drive during menstruation are connected can help you decode your body’s patterns and feel less confused when your cravings—sexual or otherwise - shift unexpectedly. 

What Happens To Libido During Your Period?

During your actual period (the bleeding phase), estrogen and progesterone levels drop sharply. This can lead to period anxiety and depression, fatigue, and mood changes that often lower sex drive. Some people feel bloated, crampy, or uncomfortable, which makes intimacy less appealing.

But not everyone feels the same way. For some, the drop in progesterone (which has a natural "calming" effect) can actually increase libido slightly at the start of menstruation. Plus, the pelvic muscle contractions from orgasms may help reduce cramps — a bonus you probably weren’t expecting when thinking about how hormones affect sex drive.

Why Does Libido Increase After Your Period?

Once your period ends, you move into the follicular phase, where estrogen starts rising again. This hormone boosts energy, confidence, and vaginal lubrication, setting the stage for a higher sex drive. In fact, studies show that during this time, people often report more sexual fantasies and feel more responsive to erotic stimuli due to estrogen’s effect on the brain’s reward system. This stage is a peak time for libido because your body is biologically preparing for ovulation. If you’ve ever wondered how the period and libido connection works right after your period ends, this is why you might suddenly feel flirtier or more physically affectionate.

What Happens To Your Sex Drive During Ovulation?

Ovulation is often called the "fertile window," and it’s also when your hormonal changes during your menstrual cycle reach a point that maximises sexual desire. Testosterone—which is sometimes overlooked in conversations about female health - spikes just before ovulation. Testosterone is directly linked to libido in all genders, and it makes a huge difference in how turned on you feel. 

Estrogen also peaks during this time, increasing blood flow to the genitals and enhancing sensations. So, if you find yourself thinking about sex more often or feeling more physically sensitive, it’s not in your head - it’s hormones. 

These changes are part of your body’s natural fertility cycle, but they can still have a huge impact on day-to-day life, whether you’re trying to get pregnant or not. Learning how hormones affect sex drive during this window can help you lean into pleasure rather than being caught off guard by the shift.

Why Does Libido Drop Before Your Period?

Enter the luteal phase, the time between ovulation and your next period. Here, progesterone becomes the dominant hormone. Progesterone can make you feel more relaxed but also more sluggish, sometimes leading to period anxiety and depression or PMS mood swings. If your sex drive drops during this time, it’s totally normal. Progesterone tends to dull sexual desire, and you might also feel more bloated or sensitive emotionally. Some people describe this phase as feeling like you’re "retreating" from the world, both socially and sexually.

If you’re on hormonal birth control, such as the combined pill or the progestogen-only pill, this can also affect your sex drive. Some people on birth control report a drop in libido due to the synthetic hormones altering the natural rhythm of hormones and sex drive during menstruation.

How Do Mood And Mental Health Affect Your Libido?

Your period and libido aren’t just controlled by hormones; they’re also linked to how you feel emotionally. The hormonal rollercoaster of the cycle can trigger mood swings, low energy, or even anxiety and depression in some people. This makes it harder to feel connected to your body or interested in intimacy.

That’s why tracking your mood alongside your cycle can be useful. It helps you identify patterns, like whether period anxiety and depression are affecting your sex life. A symptom diary can also help you explain these shifts to a partner, reducing any confusion or miscommunication.

Can You Do Anything About These Libido Swings?

It's complicated.

You can’t have full control over the hormonal changes during your menstrual cycle, but you can work with them. Here’s how:

• Track your cycle: Use a period tracker to predict when your libido might spike or dip. There are many apps that can help you plan around your sex drive patterns.
• Communicate with your partner: Let them know how you’re feeling each week. Talking about how hormones affect sex drive can help reduce pressure or misunderstandings.
• Prioritise comfort: Whether that means using period products that help you feel less restricted or exploring gentle, no-pressure intimacy during low-libido days, listen to your body first.

Your Libido Isn’t Broken

Your period and libido are part of the same system. Fluctuating sex drive is not just normal - it’s expected when you understand hormones and sex drive during menstruation. Estrogen and testosterone drive desire during the first half of your cycle, while progesterone tends to slow things down in the second half.

Recognising these patterns can help you navigate intimacy with more ease and less guilt. Whether you’re feeling turned on, tuned out, or somewhere in between, your body is doing exactly what it’s designed to do.