Hormones are the main factor in the rise and fall of your libido
Your libido: explanation. The menstrual cycle is synonymous with hormonal changes. Hormones are the main factor in the rise and fall of your libido. Understanding your cycle allows you to have a fulfilling sex life and a controlled libido, and also to understand the most fertile periods in your cycle.
Your menstrual cycle is directly linked to your libido
If you are anything like me, you've heard random reports that your libido correlates with your menstrual cycle. I've always wanted to know exactly how this happens and what happens every 28 days in my cycle, so I decided to investigate.
The menstrual cycle corresponds to the various physiological phenomena of the female body in order to prepare it for possible fertilisation. The cycle is regulated by hormones. Lasting 28 days on average, the first day corresponds to the first day of bleeding, also known as menstruation.
Menstrual bleeding lasts between 4 and 7 days on average, and is followed by a period of regeneration of the uterus during which it prepares the ground for potential implantation of a fertilised egg.
During this time, the ovaries prepare an oocyte that will be expelled on the day of ovulation. Once it has been expelled, the oocyte will nestle in the fallopian tubes, waiting for a spermatozoon. If fertilisation occurs, the egg will gently descend the Fallopian tubes and implant itself in the uterus. If fertilisation does not occur, it will be expelled during the next period. This whole process is known as the "menstrual cycle" or the "female cycle", and hormones play a key role throughout.
Your libido and hormonal changes during your cycle
The human body produces hormones continuously. There are happy hormones, sad hormones, but also excitement and pleasure hormones. These are the same hormones that help the menstrual cycle to run smoothly. We're going to explain how your libido changes thanks to these hormones.
The hormones that affect your libido are called oestrogen, the true love hormones. In fact, over the course of the month, you may find that your libido increases in proportion to the level of oestrogen.
Vous êtes de super bonne humeur et votre libido est en hausse ? Dites merci à vos hormones. Dans la première moitié du cycle, sous l’influence des œstrogènes, l’ambiance est plus légère, les décisions sont plus faciles à prendre, le sommeil est paisible.
Are you in a great mood and is your libido on the rise? Say thank you to your hormones. In the first half of the cycle, under the influence of oestrogen, the mood is lighter, decisions are easier to make and sleep is peaceful.
After ovulation, oestrogen levels drop dramatically and are replaced by another hormone, progesterone. Its mission: to soften the uterine lining, store water and valuable nutrients such as sugar, proteins, vitamins and antibodies. You'll notice that your mood and libido are a little lower.
You can monitor your LH hormone levels with ovulation tests. This will help you understand your most fertile period and also your libido. These tests help you to know the day of ovulation, which corresponds to the peak in luteinising hormone (LH) that triggers ovulation. The test shows a small line that becomes darker and darker when the hormone is more and more present, so when you ovulate and your libido is at its peak. This is a great help to couples who are trying to have a baby, to determine the most fertile time to have sexual relations.
Taking certain medications can affect your libido
Taking certain medications and hormonal contraception can also have an effect on libido and mood. You should therefore be well informed about the side effects of any medication you are taking. Ask your doctor for advice if necessary.
The influence of your hormones on your libido
A few days before ovulation, when your ovaries are preparing to expel the egg, your oestrogen rises considerably. This is probably the period when you feel your libido increase, and it's also the most fertile period of the cycle. So it's around the 14th day after the start of your period that you're most likely to conceive, so your body is sending you signals: with the rise in oestrogen levels, your body is preparing to conceive a child and that's when your libido is at its highest.
Don't hesitate to seek professional advice and don't forget that communication is the key to a fulfilling relationship. You're not the only one to experience these changes in libido; your partner is subject to them too. Finally, it's important to remember that even outside the periods of fertility and ovulation, your body produces oestrogen in smaller quantities. Although your libido is increased around ovulation, you can still experience pleasure throughout your cycle.
