Your hormones affect you every day of your life. Regardless of your age, normal fluctuations across the menstrual cycle can drive changes in your mood, appetite, and libido.
Early on in your cycle, you have just come off of your period and levels of estrogen and testosterone are low. You may feel more apt to stay at home, since both hormones help fuel energy levels. The quality of your sleep may be poor, and even your breasts may feel less full due to the low estrogen levels.
Mid-cycle is when you'll see the most delicious hormonal happenings. Sex drive spikes around the time of ovulation when testosterone levels are at their peak (to help you conceive if you're trying). Estrogen is at its highest just before you ovulate, which can make you feel more energetic and creative. Hormonally speaking, life is good.
The Role of Hormones in Attraction:
Forget expensive perfumes and mascara. When it comes to attracting a mate, women need look no further than their own natural chemical makeup. A recent study from Florida State University asked men to rate the attractiveness of a female subject after spending a short interval of time with her. When the subject was ovulating, she was rated as more attractive and desirable than when she wasn’t ovulating. Apparently, men can pick up subconscious cues that alert them to a woman’s ovulation cycle, and their bodies instinctively respond by increasing their desire for mates who are most likely to be fertile.
However, our attraction to mates isn’t driven only by hidden biological information. In the study, it was found that some men were not attracted to the ovulating female subject. Men who were in committed relationships reported significant less attraction to the subject when she was ovulating. Researchers theorize that this is because committed men "shut off" their biological drive in an attempt to safeguard their relationship.
Hence, while much of our attraction comes to subconscious hormonal cues, we have evolved into a monogamous race that prioritizes commitment, trust, and longevity. Sounds like the best of both worlds to me
