Increased Libido During Ovulation
How Hormones Stimulate the Animal Instinct to Mate and Reproduce
Oct 3, 2008
A woman typically ovulates about fourteen days before her next period is due. While it takes a 2-3 day period for the egg to be released from the fallopian tube and descend slowly toward the uterus in preparation to be fertilized, sperm live up to 3-5 days, increasing the fertile period. It is during this small window of opportunity that a woman may become pregnant.
According to the Ovulation Calculator, it makes sense from an evolutionary standpoint that a woman’s libido would increase during ovulation. During this highly fertile phase, a woman’s increased interest in sex ensures a greater probability of conceiving with her mate and reproducing. The increase in libido has been attributed to increases in estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, and generally kicks in anywhere from a few days before ovulation until ovulation is over.
It has even been speculated that as a woman’s breasts become fuller and tender around ovulation, she is biologically appearing more attractive to her mate to persuade him to reproduce. In any case, it is interesting that both men and women have these base chemical reactions that promote reproduction.
Other Symptoms of Ovulation
- Increase in cervical mucus (discharge will often be abundant, thin, and stretchy, like egg whites)
- Basal body temperature increases due to rise in progesterone levels (this can be charted using a basal body thermometer available in most drug stores)
- Breast and nipple sensitivity, also due to increases in progesterone
- Mittelschmertz (ovulation pain) caused by the egg bursting forth from the fallopian tubes; this is only felt by about 20% of women
- Positive sign on an ovulation test (kits can be purchased in most drug stores)
Fertility Advice
First of all, if a woman is on birth control, her ovulatory cycle will be repressed and she will feel few, if any, of the above symptoms. If a woman is planning on becoming pregnant and has ceased taking birth control, she cannot depend on assessing her libido alone. She must also take into consideration the other symptoms of ovulation. Many women also ovulate either earlier or later than mid-cycle. It may take a few months of careful calculation for a woman to be sure when she typically ovulates. If a woman has been unable to chart any period of ovulation after a significant period of time, she should consult with her physician to see if she is indeed ovulating. There are many medications and other interventions available for a woman who does not ovulate.
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