Fluctuations in sexual desire and attraction throughout the menstrual cycle are a common, well-documented biological phenomenon. For many, the perception of increased attraction, often described as a heightened physical or emotional focus, can feel unexpected during the menstrual phase. These fluctuations are directly tied to the dynamic shifts in reproductive hormones that characterize the monthly cycle. Understanding this specific hormonal environment provides a clear, scientific explanation for why this increase in desire can happen.
The Hormonal Baseline During Menstruation
The menstrual phase, which marks the start of the cycle, is defined by the shedding of the uterine lining and a dramatic drop in the primary sex hormones. Both estrogen and progesterone levels fall to their absolute lowest point during this time, often referred to as a hormonal “rock bottom.” This steep decline occurs because the corpus luteum, which produced these hormones during the previous luteal phase, has broken down after a lack of fertilization.
This low hormonal baseline signifies the end of the previous cycle’s preparations for pregnancy. Estrogen, which is responsible for building the uterine lining, is largely absent. Similarly, progesterone drops off, removing its powerful, desire-dampening effect. The simultaneous low levels of both hormones create a unique hormonal window where less prominent hormonal influences can become more noticeable.
The Relative Influence of Testosterone on Libido
The primary scientific explanation for a surge in desire during menstruation relates to the relative influence of testosterone. Testosterone is produced in the ovaries and adrenal glands and is the main biological driver of female libido, or sexual desire. Unlike estrogen and progesterone, which plummet at the start of menstruation, testosterone levels tend to remain relatively stable or may even experience a small, temporary rise during the first few days of the period.
The significance of this stable or slightly elevated testosterone level is magnified by the absence of high progesterone. Progesterone, which peaks in the luteal phase just before the period, is known to suppress sexual interest. When this dampening effect is suddenly removed, the existing testosterone is unopposed by the high levels of other sex hormones.
This shift in the hormone ratio allows the influence of testosterone to become more prominent, resulting in a noticeable increase in physical desire or arousal. Testosterone exerts a stronger effect on the brain’s reward centers, which are linked to sexual motivation. Therefore, the physical sensation of a higher sex drive is triggered by testosterone’s enhanced relative strength compared to the now-low estrogen and progesterone.
Differentiating Physical Drive from Emotional Attraction
The experience of being “more attracted to guys” during this time is often a subjective interpretation of a purely physical state: increased libido. While the hormonal environment fosters a heightened physical drive, this sensation of arousal can easily be misread as an increase in emotional or selective attraction toward potential partners. The biological mechanism is primarily one of generalized sexual readiness, not necessarily one of mate selection.
This is distinct from the heightened, more selective attraction patterns often observed during the ovulatory phase, when high estrogen is linked to a temporary preference for specific masculine traits. During menstruation, the feeling is more about an increase in the urge for physical intimacy that is then channeled toward existing or potential partners.
Non-hormonal factors also contribute to this feeling of openness and desire. The onset of menstruation brings relief from the emotional and physical discomfort of pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS). The cessation of symptoms like irritability, bloating, or mood swings leads to a positive shift in mood and energy, making a person more open to intimacy and connection.