If you’ve ever wondered why some weeks you’re basically a walking ball of desire and other weeks you just want to curl up in bed and be left alone with your hot water bottle, blame (or thank) your menstrual cycle. Your hormones and your menstrual cycle play a big role in whether you feel flirty, feisty, or flat-out uninterested in sex.
Let’s discuss how they run the show and if there’s really a best time for sex according to your cycle.
Menstrual Phase
This is the phase when you see your period, and it can go either way. Oestrogen and progesterone are both low, which can leave you tired and crampy. When you add the blood and dealing with changing your tampons or pads, you might not feel so sexy during this phase, and sex is the last thing on your mind. That is valid.
However, for some, they get a surge in desire thanks to the extra blood flow to the pelvis during this phase, which can actually heighten sensitivity. Orgasms also release endorphins, which may help with cramps. Ultimately, yay or nay to period sex really comes down to your preference and comfort.
The Follicular Phase
This phase also starts on the first day of your period. As bleeding ends, oestrogen levels rise and so does your mood, energy, and libido. It’s basically your hot girl era. Many women feel more confident, playful, and energised. So, sex can really be fun during this phase.
Ovulation
This is the time when your libido is at its peak. Oestrogen and luteinizing hormone are at their highest. Your cervical mucus is slippery, making sex more comfortable, and your hormones increase blood flow to your vagina, which can make orgasms stronger and more intense.
All your body wants is for you to make babies, even though that might not be your goal. If we had to crown the best time for sex on a strict biological basis, this would be it.
Luteal Phase
After ovulation, progesterone levels increase. For some, this brings a cozy, cuddly vibe that makes sex feel emotionally satisfying. For others, it comes with bloating, sore boobs, fatigue, or irritability (side eye PMS), so sex is off the table for them.
Final Thoughts: Is There Really a Best Time for Sex?
Biologically, ovulation wins the gold medal for peak desire. But if we’re being real, the “best” time for sex isn’t just about hormones. It’s about what feels right for you. Some people love period sex, some feel their sexiest right after their period, and others find some comfort in luteal phase intimacy. So, yes, while your cycle sets the stage, your mood and how you feel direct the play.
Instead of looking for a universal “best time,” try listening to your own patterns. When do you feel most sexy or relaxed? That’s your best time for sex.
If sex feels uncomfortable, painful, or your libido has completely disappeared for a long time, it may be worth chatting with a gynaecologist here to be sure you don’t have any underlying issues that are silently affecting your sex drive.
