# Do women experience sexual appetite only during certain time of the month (ovulation)? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 9, 2018, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-experience-sexual-appetite-only-during-certain-time-of-the-month-ovulation/810282 "2018-03-09T15:16:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2018, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-experience-sexual-appetite-only-during-certain-time-of-the-month-ovulation/810282/21 "2018-03-09T18:25:55Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > The OP is largely accurate, if somewhat exaggerated (e.g. the term “almost nonexistent”). See e.g. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libido#Sex_hormone_levels_and_the_menstrual_cycle) on the subject, or any number of comparable sources. > > This is not particularly controversial. I think you’ve got it backwards – he’s largely incorrect. There are variations in libido caused by hormones and other factors, but from reading his OP sentence by sentence, most of his factual assertions are false. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2018, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-experience-sexual-appetite-only-during-certain-time-of-the-month-ovulation/810282/22 "2018-03-09T18:40:25Z")
I’m a woman, and if you want to know what I really think… there is no God. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2018, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-experience-sexual-appetite-only-during-certain-time-of-the-month-ovulation/810282/23 "2018-03-09T18:42:39Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I think you’ve got it backwards – he’s largely incorrect. There are variations in libido caused by hormones and other factors, but from reading his OP sentence by sentence, most of his factual assertions are false. The central assertion is that women’s libido tends to vary by point in the menstrual cycle, being highest when most fertile. This is correct. As I said there were some exaggerations in saying that it’s “almost nonexistent” at other times, and the like. But the basic point is correct. ---
**Author:** ![gisaaanr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3d9bf3/32.png) [@gisaaanr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gisaaanr)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2018, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-experience-sexual-appetite-only-during-certain-time-of-the-month-ovulation/810282/24 "2018-03-09T18:43:13Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I’m a woman, and if you want to know what I really think… > > there is no God. There is no God that’s why women have weaker libido and it last for 5 days? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2018, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-experience-sexual-appetite-only-during-certain-time-of-the-month-ovulation/810282/25 "2018-03-09T18:43:42Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > The central assertion is that women’s libido tends to vary by point in the menstrual cycle, being highest when most fertile. This is correct. As I said there were some exaggerations in saying that it’s “almost nonexistent” at other times, and the like. But the basic point is correct. I don’t think that’s the central assertion, but it appears that we agree on the facts, we just disagree on what the OP is saying. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2018, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-experience-sexual-appetite-only-during-certain-time-of-the-month-ovulation/810282/26 "2018-03-09T19:07:22Z")
> [@gisaaanr](#): > > There is no God that’s why women have weaker libido and it last for 5 days? Is that what women you know have been telling you?.. Are they busy washing their hair on those remaining 5 days? Huh… what rotten luck. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2018, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-experience-sexual-appetite-only-during-certain-time-of-the-month-ovulation/810282/27 "2018-03-09T19:11:17Z")
> [@gisaaanr](#): > > There is no God that’s why women have weaker libido and it last for 5 days? I don’t wanna put words in **Dung Beetle** ’s mouth, but I read her statement of atheism as a bit broader. I laughed. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2018, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-experience-sexual-appetite-only-during-certain-time-of-the-month-ovulation/810282/28 "2018-03-09T19:22:44Z")
No! and just NO. Like I said, NO! You got that? ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2018, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-experience-sexual-appetite-only-during-certain-time-of-the-month-ovulation/810282/29 "2018-03-09T19:54:48Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Here’s an odd idea to attempt to wrap your head around: women are the same species as men, not some mysterious, inscrutable aliens. Cite please. Thx. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2018, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-experience-sexual-appetite-only-during-certain-time-of-the-month-ovulation/810282/30 "2018-03-09T20:08:09Z")
**kayaker** , you totally get me. At least one of us should be worried. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2018, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-experience-sexual-appetite-only-during-certain-time-of-the-month-ovulation/810282/31 "2018-03-09T20:13:30Z")
What, me worry? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2018, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-experience-sexual-appetite-only-during-certain-time-of-the-month-ovulation/810282/32 "2018-03-09T20:39:14Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > **kayaker** , you totally get me. At least one of us should be worried. Maybe he should rename himself [kleptoparasitic fly](https://bugguide.net/node/view/1126184/bgimage). ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2018, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-experience-sexual-appetite-only-during-certain-time-of-the-month-ovulation/810282/33 "2018-03-09T20:47:21Z")
Well, if that picture doesn’t stoke up a woman’s libido, I don’t know what will! ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2018, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-experience-sexual-appetite-only-during-certain-time-of-the-month-ovulation/810282/34 "2018-03-09T20:55:00Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > The central assertion is that women’s libido tends to vary by point in the menstrual cycle, being highest when most fertile. This is correct. As I said there were some exaggerations in saying that it’s “almost nonexistent” at other times, and the like. But the basic point is correct. As a woman, I would say that the variables around what my libido is are complex, and that somewhere in their “where I am in my cycle” comes into play - but its well behind “is the house clean” “have I gotten enough sleep” “do I currently think of myself as attractive” “do I have a stomachache” “do I have financial anxiety” “did I eat too much for dinner” “have I had kids hanging on me all day” “are the kids awake and listening” and of course, well behind “when was the last time I got expensive jewelry.” (The last one is a joke) It is not true that my libido is non-existent during my period, although I don’t like sex during that time because I don’t like washing blood out of sheets (my husband is awesome at doing housework, washing sheets has been on his radar maybe three times in 25 years). I have a morning libido, but my husband will tell you I don’t - I don’t like spending the day feeling drippy and wet and the future state overrides the desire for sex now. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2018, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-experience-sexual-appetite-only-during-certain-time-of-the-month-ovulation/810282/35 "2018-03-09T20:59:58Z")
Well, there’s hormonal sex, and there’s emotional sex and there’s suggestible sex and other sex I guess, and basically you don’t know where you are until you do. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2018, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-experience-sexual-appetite-only-during-certain-time-of-the-month-ovulation/810282/36 "2018-03-09T21:09:06Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Here’s an odd idea to attempt to wrap your head around: women are the same species as men… Same species yes, but women are still different from men in significant ways. If they weren’t, no one would ever get out of bed. Here’s another example from two posts up. Where in deciding whether she’s up for sex, a woman might ask herself: “is the house clean” “have I gotten enough sleep” “do I currently think of myself as attractive” “do I have a stomachache” “do I have financial anxiety” “did I eat too much for dinner”. To the vast majority of men none of this would ever occur…or matter. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2018, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-experience-sexual-appetite-only-during-certain-time-of-the-month-ovulation/810282/37 "2018-03-09T21:11:45Z")
I completely disagree with that. I think sleep, financial anxiety, and a stomach ache would be factors for men as well as women. The others apply mostly to women. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2018, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-experience-sexual-appetite-only-during-certain-time-of-the-month-ovulation/810282/38 "2018-03-09T21:14:05Z")
I think a link to the lyrics of [Read about Love](http://www.metrolyrics.com/read-about-love-lyrics-richard-thompson.html) by Richard Thompson seems appropriate here. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2018, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-experience-sexual-appetite-only-during-certain-time-of-the-month-ovulation/810282/39 "2018-03-09T21:19:01Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > I completely disagree with that. I think sleep, financial anxiety, and a stomach ache would be factors for men as well as women. The others apply mostly to women. Those things would bother me, but not to the extent I’d put off having sex if it was an option. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2018, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-experience-sexual-appetite-only-during-certain-time-of-the-month-ovulation/810282/40 "2018-03-09T22:05:02Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Those things would bother me, but not to the extent I’d put off having sex if it was an option. I’m not sure I understand you. Do you have sex 100% of the times when it’s an option? If not, then there are obviously things which influence whether you decide to go for it on a given occasion. Are you saying that sleep, financial anxiety, and a stomach ache would not factor into your mindset on such occasions? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-experience-sexual-appetite-only-during-certain-time-of-the-month-ovulation/810282.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-women-experience-sexual-appetite-only-during-certain-time-of-the-month-ovulation/810282.md?page=3)