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Rising libido, thinner, more slippery cervical mucus and increased energy around the time of ovulation is evolution’s way of helping to ensure the survival of the species! The more liquid texture of the cervical mucus or vaginal lubrication makes it easier for sperm to reach the egg, while raised libido and energy can help you feel more sociable, attractive and interested in sex.
If you’re trying to get pregnant, sex during the purple phase in the graph above is most likely to result in pregnancy.
Needless to say, if you are actively trying not to get pregnant you need to ensure that you and your partner are using effective contraception every time you have sex. It’s also good to know that conception is much less likely in the green phases in the graph featured in the "Trying to conceive" section above, although relying on this is not an effective contraception method!
At this time, the egg released at ovulation has begun to break down, and your body is either gearing up for another period or is having a period. Progesterone levels rise, preventing another egg from being released and lowering libido and mood with it, reducing your desire for sex.
When you’re in your teens, twenties and early thirties, unless you have other medical conditions your cycle is likely to be reasonably regular at this age. If you are tracking your cycle you should be able to predict quite accurately when your most fertile days are and/or when your sex drive is most likely to be highest.
As you enter your forties and fifties, though, an increasingly irregular cycle can make it hard to work out which menstrual phase you are currently in. You may also find that around menopause your vagina becomes drier and the lining gets thinner. This can make sex uncomfortable, but there are some treatments that may help – ask your doctor for advice.
One size does not fit all!
Don’t forget that libido, and your cycle, are highly susceptible to lots of other influences like hormones, stress, life events and mood. Every woman is different, so don’t worry if your cycle doesn’t fit the exact pattern you were expecting.
Why not try tracking to get to know YOUR cycle? Learn more in our article Menstrual cycle phases
Needless to say, if you are actively trying not to get pregnant you need to ensure that you and your partner are using effective contraception every time you have sex. It’s also good to know that conception is much less likely in the green phases in the graph featured in the "Trying to conceive" section above, although relying on this is not an effective contraception method!
