Sex drive isn’t constant — it shifts with your hormonal rhythm. Many people notice more desire around ovulation and less just before or during their period. That’s because estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone rise and fall in waves throughout the cycle.

In the first two weeks after your period, estrogen rises, and testosterone peaks around ovulation. Blood flow increases, dopamine surges, and you may feel more confident and connected. After ovulation, progesterone takes the lead — it calms the body but can also quiet desire. Toward the end of the cycle, prostaglandins and water retention can make your body feel heavy or uncomfortable.

But hormones are only part of the picture. Stress, sleep, relationships, and self-esteem all affect libido. So do medications, contraception, and mental health.

Alma’s tips:

See your libido as part of your rhythm, not as a measure of how “normal” you are. Desire needs rest, safety, and connection — not pressure. If your sex drive disappears for a while, ask what your body might be saying: Are you tired? Overwhelmed? Disconnected? The goal isn’t to “fix” your libido — it’s to understand it. When you care for your whole self, your body often finds its rhythm again.