Sexo y salud sexual

Sex drive and your cycle

Revisado: 4 de octubre de 2026

Solo en inglés por ahora

Sex drive varies a lot between people and over time. Hormones, health, stress and relationships all play a part, and low desire is only a problem if it bothers you.

There is no normal level

Sex drive (libido) means how much you want sex. People differ a lot in how often they want sex. Some want it every day and some rarely or never. No amount is the correct one. Desire also works in different ways. For some people it appears without much prompting. For others it grows in response to the right moment or situation. Both are normal.

Changes across your cycle

Hormone levels rise and fall through each menstrual cycle. Some people notice their interest in sex changes too. For example, a lower sex drive can be one of the signs of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in the days before a period. Other people notice no pattern at all. Because people differ so much, the most useful guide is your own experience. Logging sex drive in Ciclo for a few cycles can show whether you have a pattern of your own.

Contraception, pregnancy and menopause

Some people feel less interested in sex while using hormonal contraception, such as the pill, patch or implant, although studies have not shown that the combined pill changes sex drive. Pregnancy, giving birth and breastfeeding all change hormone levels and can affect desire. Hormone levels also fall as you get older, especially around menopause, and this can lower desire. Vaginal dryness, which can make sex less comfortable, can also reduce interest.

Stress, health and relationships

Many other things affect desire. Stress, anxiety and depression can all lower it, and depression can also bring tiredness and a loss of interest in things you usually enjoy. Some medicines, including some antidepressants and blood pressure medicines, can reduce sex drive, and so can drinking too much alcohol. Long-term conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or an underactive thyroid can play a part. Problems in a relationship often affect your sex life too.

When low desire is a problem

A lower sex drive is only a problem if it bothers you or causes difficulties with a partner. If it does, it can help to think about what has changed recently, such as a new medicine or contraception, a new baby, or a stressful time. Talking openly with a partner about what you each want can also help.

Getting help

See a doctor or nurse if you are worried about your sex drive, if you think a medicine or your contraception is affecting it, or if it has not returned after pregnancy. Help depends on the cause. It might mean changing a medicine or type of contraception, treatment for depression or menopause symptoms, lubricant for dryness, relationship counselling, or seeing a sex therapist.

This is general information. If changes in your sex drive worry you, talk to a doctor or nurse.