Sexual Activity and the Menstrual Cycle

A number of studies have tried to determine whether sexual interest is affected by the menstrual cycle. Studies found that women responded emotionally more posi­tively to erotic imagery prior to and during ovulation (Mass et al., 2009; Rudski et al., 2011), expressed a greater desire to engage in sexual activity with men (Gangestad et al., 2010), and reported increased masturbation and sexual behavior with partners (Brown et al., 2011). A study of lesbians also found an increase in sexual motivation around ovulation (Diamond & Wallen, 2011).

One study examined the effects of stages of the menstrual cycle by measuring the amount of tips received by professional lap dancers working in strip clubs. The results showed that lap dancers averaged $70 per hour during ovulation, $50 between ovula­tion and menstruation, and $35 during menstruation. Of further interest, dancers who were taking the birth control pill averaged $37 per hour with no peak in tips compared to the average of $53 per hour for women not taking the pill. The researchers could not determine whether the difference in tips was based on subtle differences that ovulation caused in the women’s behavior or from fluctuations in body odor or other subtle altera­tions in physical features that the customers responded to appreciatively (Miller et al., 2007). Evidence from other studies suggested that heterosexual men experience height­ened sexual interest when women are in the fertile phase of their cycles (Gildersleeve et al., 2012; Haselton & Gildersleeve, 2011; Miller & Maner, 2011).

Couples sometimes avoid sexual activity and intercourse during menstruation (Barnhart et al., 1995), although from a medical point of view there are no health rea­sons to avoid intercourse during menstruation (except in the case of excessive bleeding or other menstrual problems). Reasons for avoiding sex during a woman’s period vary.

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