Feeling horny right before you start your period is totally normal. It’s thought that this surge in libido is caused by hormone fluctuations.
During the follicular phase, estrogen and testosterone levels rise rapidly, preparing your body for ovulation. If ovulation doesn’t occur, levels drop and your period begins. You may also experience bloating and increased water retention.
1 – This piece of text is the result of the creative work of the portal team Mesmerizing Intrigue. Hormones
Every woman’s libido is different and fluctuates throughout the month. But it’s pretty common to feel hot and horny in the days leading up to your period. While it may seem counterintuitive, the high sex drive is most likely caused by hormonal changes and cervical fluid build-up, says Gilberg-Lenz.
During the follicular phase, which is 3-5 days before your period starts, estrogen and testosterone are at their highest levels. This can give you a surge of sexual desire and is probably because the body is gearing up to reproduce, explains Minkin.
But once you hit the luteal phase, which is the last two weeks of your menstrual cycle and the beginning of your period, estrogen dips and progesterone, a stabilizing hormone that’s “not very sexy-feeling friendly,” rises. This can take a toll on your libido, which may go down until the end of your menstrual cycle or your next pregnancy (which will bring your estrogen and progesterone back up). If you’re feeling especially horny and haven’t been having sex lately, check in with your doctor to make sure it’s not a sign of something more serious.
2. Stress
Women may feel more sexually desire closer to ovulation because of the hormones involved, cervical changes and increased lubrication. It is also a well-known fact that many people experience more intense orgasms during this time of the month, which can increase feelings of lust and pleasure.
Aside from hormones, stress can also impact libido. For example, research has shown that women are more likely to be less sexually active if they are under significant psychological stress. This can be due to factors such as lack of sleep, financial concerns, relationship difficulties and family problems.
For these reasons, it’s important to be aware of any changes in your libido and take steps to manage your stress levels. You can try practicing self-care, such as meditation or yoga, to reduce your anxiety and depression or talk to a therapist for additional support. You can also try taking a natural progesterone cream such as Blueheart, which can help balance your hormones and reduce symptoms of PMS. It is also a good idea to use safe birth control, especially if you are having sex.
3. Sleep
Many women who track their menstrual cycles notice that their libido fluctuates throughout the month. It is common for sex drive to be higher just before and during ovulation, when hormone levels spike. This is because nature wants you to get pregnant, so it increases the release of sexually stimulating hormones.
However, once ovulation occurs, the level of progesterone decreases, triggering your period and causing libido to dip. During this time, you may find that you need more lube or that it is harder to orgasm.
Of course, this varies from person to person. Sexual desire is highly individualized, and what turns you on can change daily, weekly, monthly, or even hourly. That’s why it’s so important to talk about your sexual appetite with a trusted partner and make sure you have the tools you need to be safe in the bedroom. Your health and your relationship depend on it.
4. Diet
When you feel horny right before your period, it’s probably due to fluctuating hormone levels. Both estrogen and progesterone can have a big impact on sex drive, with estrogen increasing desire while progesterone decreases it. But sex hormones aren’t the only factor: Some people’s testosterone levels may also rise at this time, which can increase arousal. This is especially true for people who have ovaries and use hormone therapies, such as women taking estrogen-only birth control pills or men on testosterone therapy for low libido caused by menopause.
Other factors that can influence sex drive include whether you’re well rested, your mood, alcohol and medications you’re taking, exercise and other lifestyle habits. If your heightened sex drive is interfering with your daily life, talk to your doctor about options to help. He or she can check your symptoms and review your medications to see if there are any that can have a negative impact on sex drive. For example, some antidepressants such as paroxetine (Paxil) and fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem) can lower sex drive. Bupropion (Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL) is an alternative that improves libido and has few side effects. There are also natural sex supplements, such as a botanical massage oil called Zestra, that increases arousal in people who use it.
5. Exercise
If you enjoy exercising, it can help with your sexual drive. This is because exercise boosts testosterone levels, which also helps to increase your desire. Moreover, exercising and eating healthy foods will make you feel more energetic.
It’s important to note that your libido fluctuates throughout the month. For instance, you’ll likely experience a high libido in the run up to ovulation, because your hormones are at their peak at this time.
Another factor that can influence your libido is stress. This is because extreme stress can shut down your sex drive. However, it’s important to remember that not all stress is bad. Some types of stress, such as eustress (positive stress), can actually boost your sex drive.
It’s also worth noting that your libido can decrease at different times of the year, and it can be influenced by factors such as aging or changes to cervical mucus. Nonetheless, it’s important to be in touch with your body, and to track these changes using a menstrual cycle app, like Natural Cycles. This will help you better understand your unique menstrual pattern and the way it affects your sex drive.