Can Your Period Affect Your Sex Drive?

Menstrual Cycle And The Sex Drive: How Does Libido Change?

Oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone all play a role in sexual function, but libido does not follow a perfectly predictable hormonal calendar.

A 2023 study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine tracked 213 female university students every day across 2 menstrual cycles. On average, researchers found a small rise in sexual desire around mid-cycle. However, there were large differences between participants: some experienced a mid-cycle increase, some noticed more desire around their period, and others showed little cyclical change at all.

So, your menstrual cycle and sex drive can be connected without following the same pattern every month. The same study also found that psychological changes were more closely associated with day-to-day sexual desire than physical symptoms, reinforcing that libido is influenced by more factors than the phase of the cycle alone. 

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.

Is Sexual Desire During Menstruation Normal?

If you have ever wondered, “Why am I horny on my period?”, you are not imagining the change. Some people do experience increased libido during menstruation, and research shows that a rise in sexual desire around the time of a period is one of several patterns people may experience.

There is unlikely to be one universal reason. Hormonal changes may play a part, but your mood, physical sensitivity, comfort, stress and individual cycle pattern can all influence how interested in sex you feel.

If your question is about whether you can have sex during your period, its safety or possible benefits, read Everything to Know About Sex During Your Period.

Why Is My Libido Lower During My Period?

A lower sex drive during your period is just as possible. Cramps, tiredness, headaches, bloating, breast tenderness or simply not feeling comfortable can make sexual activity less appealing.

Libido can also be influenced by factors that have nothing to do with your menstrual cycle. Stress, fatigue, relationship concerns, anxiety, depression, certain medicines and pain during sex can all affect sexual desire. Mayo Clinic notes that stress, emotional wellbeing, relationship factors, certain medicines, pain and fatigue can all affect sexual desire. 

Cleveland Clinic also lists PMS and some reproductive health conditions among factors that may negatively affect libido.

If mood changes are affecting more than just your libido, read Mahina's guide to Anxiety, Depression, And Your Cycle: What’s Really Going On?.

Why Do I Get Sexually Frustrated On My Period?

Sometimes your desire may be strong while cramps, bleeding, discomfort, privacy concerns or your circumstances make acting on it harder. That gap between wanting sexual intimacy and not feeling comfortable or able to pursue it can feel frustrating.

It may help to think about what you actually want in that moment. That could be partnered intimacy, masturbation, affection, physical closeness, rest, or simply letting the feeling pass without putting pressure on yourself.

How Can I Manage A High Or Low Sex Drive Around My Period?

Try tracking your libido alongside your menstrual cycle for a few months instead of assuming how you “should” feel during each phase. You can also note changes in your mood, sleep, stress, pain and energy to see whether your own pattern becomes clearer.

There is no need to try to increase or reduce your libido simply because it changes around your period. Focus on what feels comfortable for you. If you have a partner, communicating when your levels of desire differ can also reduce pressure or misunderstandings.

When Should You Speak With A Doctor About Changes In Libido?

There is no single level of sexual desire that is considered normal for everyone. Libido varies significantly from person to person and can also change throughout life.

You can speak with a doctor or gynaecologist whenever a change in your sex drive concerns you. Medical advice can be particularly useful if the change is sudden or persistent, affects your wellbeing or relationship, or occurs alongside symptoms such as pain during sex, vaginal dryness, unusual bleeding or significant mood changes.

A healthcare professional can help explore whether medicines, hormonal changes, physical health, mental wellbeing or other factors may be contributing.