Does ovulation make you more horny?

When considering the question, “Does ovulating make you horny?” the answer comes from the body’s biological functions during the menstrual cycle. As we touched on earlier, there are two phases in a woman’s menstrual cycle: the follicular and luteal. Although it is counterintuitive, your period is the beginning of your menstrual cycle and occurs during the early follicular phase of your ovarian cycle because there is also a uterine cycle that goes on in parallel. During this time, the uterus sheds its lining, causing menstrual bleeding. 

The entire follicular phase typically lasts around 17 days for a 30-day cycle, but it can be as short as 10 days or as long as 30 days. During this period, the brain releases the follicle-stimulating hormone or FSH, which prompts the ovaries to recruit a set of follicles to grow. Then, the selection process happens, and only one follicle becomes dominant and continues to grow while all the others resolve. This dominant follicle matures and will eventually burst and release an egg.

During the follicular phase, your estrogen levels begin to rise up to the ovulation phase, which happens around the middle of your menstrual cycle. Ovulation occurs when the ovary releases the matured egg after being triggered by a surge in the luteinizing hormone (LH). Right before ovulation, your estrogen levels are at their highest, but they quickly drop once the egg is released.

Once ovulation is complete, you move into the luteal phase. During this time, the follicle that originally created the egg transforms into the corpus luteum and begins producing high levels of progesterone. 

Progesterone thickens the uterus lining, preparing it for a fertilized egg. If you don’t become pregnant during this time, your estrogen and progesterone levels drop, causing the uterus to once again shed its lining and enter the next cycle. 

Each phase of your menstrual cycle can create different levels of sexual arousal. This fluctuation is due to hormonal changes that occur. So it’s not necessarily the act of ovulation that makes you horny; rather, it’s your hormone levels that can make you feel horny when ovulating.

What function do hormones play in the process of ovulation?

Hormones are the key factor for ovulation since they trigger the dominant follicle to mature and cause an egg to release. There are a few different hormones involved in ovulation, including gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which aids in the release of LH and FSH. FSH aids in the maturation of the follicles, which grow an egg, and LH triggers its release. 

Estrogen is another key hormone in ovulation. As one of the primary reproductive hormones, our bodies need estrogen for reproductive, bone, and heart health. It also impacts our mood and, you guessed it, our libidos. Estrogen is produced in the ovaries, and right before ovulation, it’s at its highest level. Why does that matter? High estrogen levels are known to increase your sexual desire and improve vaginal lubrication. 

Interestingly, the levels of testosterone also rise before ovulation and then gradually decrease, which may also explain ovulation horniness.

How long does an increased sex drive last during ovulation?

You can expect to experience libido changes during ovulation for about six days. Your high sexual desire will often correspond with the most fertile days of the menstrual cycle you’re in, so let’s explore what you can expect around ovulation. 

Four days before ovulation

Around four days before ovulation, you can expect to begin feeling your ovulation libido rise in preparation for the egg release. During this time, your LH rises rapidly, peaking around 24-36 hours before ovulation. 

Many women report this is when they begin to feel horny, which makes sense biologically. Sperm can live up to five days inside your body, so having sex now gives you an excellent chance of becoming pregnant. So, do you get more turned on when ovulating? For many women, the answer is “yes,” thanks to increased estrogen fueling your arousal during ovulation. 

24-hours before ovulation

Your LH and FSH levels reach their peak around 24-36 hours before ovulation. Your estrogen levels are also high around 2-3 days before ovulation, which can be one of the reasons for your increased libido during ovulation. 

Ovulation

Ovulation occurs when the burst of the dominant follicle happens and the egg is released from the ovaries. You will continue to feel increased arousal during ovulation as your body prepares for fertilization. It’s important to note that many factors can impact your fertility, and ovulation is only one of them. You may wonder, “Are women hornier when ovulating?” For some, the answer is yes, but that’s not always the case, and it doesn’t necessarily mean there’s anything wrong with you if you don’t notice an increase in your libido during ovulation. 

Post ovulation

Once ovulation is complete and the egg is released from the ovary, your estrogen levels drop, and your progesterone levels rise. While the answer to “Does your sex drive increase during ovulation?” is yes, it’s far less common to have a high sex drive after ovulation. There are a few reasons for this. 

To start, the released egg can only live for around 12 to 24 hours after you ovulate, so there’s only a short window for pregnancy to occur if you have sex during the day of ovulation. That’s why many women track their ovulation symptoms so closely, so they know the best time to conceive. Additionally, rising progesterone signals your brain that the fertile days are over, which can cause your libido to decrease sharply. Remember, your body wants to procreate, so it does everything it can to increase your chances of becoming pregnant. So, are women more horny during ovulation? Sometimes, and you’ll often notice a decrease in your sex drive once ovulation is over.

What other factors can influence your libido?

Not only does ovulation cause horniness, there are other factors that can skyrocket your sex drive as well. 

Relationships

Relationship problems, such as feeling disconnected, lacking trust and privacy, experiencing unresolved conflicts, and having poor communication about sexual needs, can lead to a low sex drive.

Medications

Certain medications, like antidepressants, can directly impact your libido. They can make it hard to get aroused and reach orgasm, which doesn’t increase sex drive or make sex enjoyable.  

Mental health

While you may wonder, “Does ovulation increase libido?” your mental health also plays a distinct role. If you’re feeling high levels of stress or anxiety, depression, or dealing with trauma, you can have a lower sex drive. Alternatively, if your mental health is good, you can feel energized and enjoy higher levels of horniness. 

Physical health

Along with your mental health, your physical health plays a key role in your libido. If you suffer from chronic conditions like high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes, or heart disease, you may have a weaker sex drive. Additionally, changes like menopause can impact your libido. 

For many women, the question is, does ovulation week make you hornier, and thanks to the high levels of estrogen in your body, the answer is often yes. This biological process can increase your chances of getting pregnant by ensuring you have sex when you’re most fertile. Understanding your hormones and how they impact your body can give you better insights into why you feel the way you do. 

The award-winning Hormona app is designed to provide personalized insights into your hormone health. It’s the perfect tool for women experiencing a wide range of symptoms, including:

• Irregular cycles
• Anxiety
• Low libido
• Tiredness
• Hair loss
• Weight gain
• Mood swings
• Much more!

FAQ

Does sex feel different when ovulating?

For many women, sex can feel different when ovulating. For some, there can be ovulation pain, called mittelschmerz, in the lower abdomen, which may make sex less enjoyable.

Is a high libido a sign of ovulation?

Yes, a high libido can be a sign of ovulation. This is due to a surge in estrogen, which is known to increase sex drive. 

Can men tell when a woman is ovulating?

This is quite possible. Although there’s no solid evidence showing that men can tell when a woman is ovulating,  some believe they can sense changes in body odor, voice, and facial appearance mid-cycle.

Can frequent sex induce ovulation?

Sex itself doesn’t trigger ovulation, as women do not need an orgasm for ovulation to happen. However, some animals have copulation-induced ovulation. 

How to relieve ovulation horniness?

While ovulation horniness should clear up on its own in a few days, there are a few things you can do to help it go away. These include listening to music, distracting yourself, journaling, practicing mindfulness, or talking to your doctor if it becomes a larger problem.