# Menstrual cycle and horniness **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 2, 2002, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstrual-cycle-and-horniness/139918 "2002-12-02T07:31:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Essured](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Essured](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Essured)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstrual-cycle-and-horniness/139918/1 "2002-12-02T07:31:31Z")
Is there any sort of link between where a woman is in her menstrual cycle and how horny she feels ? ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstrual-cycle-and-horniness/139918/2 "2002-12-02T08:55:49Z")
Personally, I’d say yes. Sure happens t’ me. 🙂 This Aussie [site](http://www.menstruation.com.au/periodpages/chartingcycles.html) has some general info, including a notation of “libido increasing”. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstrual-cycle-and-horniness/139918/3 "2002-12-02T09:04:11Z")
Well, when the eggs are ready, presumably the woman would be, too. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstrual-cycle-and-horniness/139918/4 "2002-12-02T10:11:48Z")
**Derleth:** Presumably, the sun comes up in the morning so that I don’t have to drive to work in the dark. That reminds me why I got so annoyed with your relativity post a couple of days ago. ---
**Author:** ![mrcrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@mrcrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrcrow)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstrual-cycle-and-horniness/139918/5 "2002-12-02T10:37:36Z")
you can always cloud the issue a bit with atmospheric layering ovulation is polar to menstruation so it must be related to the horn…sure as eggs are eggs. (more logic) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstrual-cycle-and-horniness/139918/6 "2002-12-02T11:05:47Z")
Women are apparently several times more likely to cheat on their partners when they are ovulating. I can’t remember the exact source - I think it was on a BBC documentary about human instincts. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstrual-cycle-and-horniness/139918/7 "2002-12-02T11:44:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Derleth \* > \*\*Well, when the eggs are ready, presumably the woman would be, too. > > 😉 \*\* Are you confusing menstrating with ovulating? ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstrual-cycle-and-horniness/139918/8 "2002-12-02T12:03:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Skogcat \* > \*\*Are you confusing menstrating with ovulating? \*\* OP asked about ‘menstrual cycle’ - isn’t ovulation a part of the cycle? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![effac3d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@effac3d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/effac3d)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstrual-cycle-and-horniness/139918/9 "2002-12-02T12:07:08Z")
No,menstuation would be what happens when ovulation didn’t result in fetilization and implantation. ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstrual-cycle-and-horniness/139918/10 "2002-12-02T12:15:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by effac3d \* > \*\*No,menstuation would be what happens when ovulation didn’t result in fetilization and implantation. \*\* ‘[Menstruation](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=menstrual)’ just means “monthly” - eggs are released each month, and that’s what meant by ‘menstrual cycle’…? Shedding the womb lining is just another part of that cycle, but I didn’t think that’s what ‘menstruation’ actually meant? It’s just the most obvious sign that the monthly merry-go-round is here again. Maybe the OP could clarify if the question is whether a woman’s horniness rises specifically while she is shedding her womb lining, or whether the question is more generally whether horniness is linked to the whole monthly cycle? ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstrual-cycle-and-horniness/139918/11 "2002-12-02T12:22:16Z")
Seems to me that if **Goo** had wanted to ask about menstruation, he would have _said_ menstruation. But he asked about the _menstrual cycle_, which is the whole monthly reproductive cycle, including menstruation, ovulation, and everything in between. I have yet to find any study about whether women are hornier at one time of the month as opposed to another. Although you might figure that a woman should be horniest when she’s most fertile, the anecdotal evidence I have says it ain’t necessarily so. Those of my women friends who have mentioned an increased sex drive at a certain time (in my hearing anyway) usually say it’s during, or just before, their menstrual period. I’d venture a guess though that for most of us female types, the sex drive is a complex thing, influenced by so many other things that any regularly monthly variations are hard to notice. ---
**Author:** ![istara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e79b87/32.png) [@istara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/istara)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstrual-cycle-and-horniness/139918/12 "2002-12-02T12:28:22Z")
Definitely there’s a link for me to certain parts of the cycle and libido. However I don’t know if it’s the same for every woman. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstrual-cycle-and-horniness/139918/13 "2002-12-02T13:55:48Z")
yup, really horny day 14, horny during my period and just before. the first makes sense, the second part doesn’t. but there you go. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstrual-cycle-and-horniness/139918/14 "2002-12-02T15:39:15Z")
I’m on the same schedule as **irishgirl**. 🙂 I just read in Cosmo last night (the Dec. issue) a little tidbit that says what **e-logic** said. “Studies suggest” that women are more likely to cheat during ovulation. Biologically it makes sense. If it’s all about making babies, one man isn’t going to necessarily make a baby. Better be safe than sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstrual-cycle-and-horniness/139918/15 "2002-12-02T15:59:57Z")
Yes, I am at my “horniest” after the second day of my menstruation and for the next 5 days. Always, like a clock. I haven’t noticed anything like ovulation = horny. Maybe I am strange. ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstrual-cycle-and-horniness/139918/16 "2002-12-02T16:38:59Z")
I feel horrid when I’m ovulating and when I’m menstruating. But there’s a brief (1 or 2 days) of Prime Time just AFTER my period. I think it’s weird; most women I know are more receptive mid-cycle. Go figure. So yes, there might be some link, but I would imagine that it’s specific to each individual. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstrual-cycle-and-horniness/139918/17 "2002-12-02T16:49:53Z")
I would think that being horny just prior to or during a period would be sort of a “one last chance to fertilise this egg, do it NOW or it goes down the drain” kind of thing. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstrual-cycle-and-horniness/139918/18 "2002-12-02T21:17:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Desmostylus \* > \*\ ***Derleth:** Presumably, the sun comes up in the morning so that I don’t have to drive to work in the dark. > > That reminds me why I got so annoyed with your relativity post a couple of days ago. \*\* I made a bad joke and you jump all over me. No, I’m not going to make _that_ bad joke. Besides, you have me confused with someone else. I haven’t posted about Relativity, Special or General, in a _long_ time. ---
**Author:** ![Morgainelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Morgainelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgainelf)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstrual-cycle-and-horniness/139918/19 "2002-12-02T21:23:24Z")
Hormone levels fluctuate throughout the month, so it makes sense to me that sex drive would fluctuate as well. I recall in Desmond Morris’ series **The Human Animal** a snippet about a study that said that women at dance clubs tended to show more skin the closer they were to ovulation. Hmmm…could it be that we’re just less bloated and less likely to cover up? ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstrual-cycle-and-horniness/139918/20 "2002-12-02T22:20:17Z")
Ah ok, so it was _me_ getting mixed up, no worries. Part of the reason I was confused and misread the op is that in my experience girls are very horny when they have their period. Very frustrating if you’re not into messy sex. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menstrual-cycle-and-horniness/139918.md?page=2)