Editing Libido (section)

==== Sex hormone levels and the menstrual cycle ====
A woman's desire for sex is correlated to her [[menstrual cycle]], with many women experiencing a heightened sexual desire in the several days immediately before [[ovulation]],<ref>{{cite journal| first1=Susan B. | last1= Bullivant |first2= Sarah A.| last2= Sellergren | first3= Kathleen |last3= Stern |title=Women's sexual experience during the menstrual cycle: identification of the sexual phase by noninvasive measurement of luteinizing hormone |journal=Journal of Sex Research |date=February 2004 |volume=41 |issue=1 |pages=82–93 (in online article, see pp.14–15, 18–22) |url=https://dx.doi.org/10.1080%2F00224490409552216 |pmid=15216427 |doi=10.1080/00224490409552216 |s2cid=40401379 |display-authors=etal |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070923001735/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2372/is_1_41/ai_n6032944 |archive-date=2007-09-23 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> which is her peak fertility period, which normally occurs two days before and until two days after the ovulation.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.duofertility.com/en/my-body/my-cycle/my-fertile-period.html |title=My Fertile Period| website= DuoFertility.com| date= | publisher= |access-date= 2008-09-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221225600/http://www.duofertility.com/en/my-body/my-cycle/my-fertile-period.html |archive-date=2008-12-21 }}</ref> This cycle has been associated with changes in a woman's [[testosterone]] levels during the menstrual cycle. According to Gabrielle Lichterman, testosterone levels have a direct impact on a woman's interest in sex. According to her, testosterone levels rise gradually from about the 24th day of a woman's menstrual cycle until ovulation on about the 14th day of the next cycle, and during this period the woman's desire for sex increases consistently. The 13th day is generally the day with the highest testosterone levels. In the week following ovulation, the testosterone level is the lowest and as a result women will experience less interest in sex.<ref name= "Lichterman">{{cite book| title=28 Days: What Your Cycle Reveals about Your Love Life, Moods, and Potential| first= Gabrielle|last=Lichterman| isbn= 978-1-59337-345-0| date= November 2004| publisher= Adams Media Corporation}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=October 2015}}

Also, during the week following ovulation, [[progesterone]] levels increase, resulting in a woman experiencing difficulty achieving [[orgasm]]. Although the last days of the menstrual cycle are marked by a constant testosterone level, women's libido may get a boost as a result of the thickening of the [[Endometrium|uterine lining]] which stimulates [[nerve endings]] and makes a woman feel aroused.<ref name="C">{{cite web |url=http://www.emaxhealth.com/48/4247.html |title=Women Can Now Predict When They Will Have The Best Sex | website= emaxhealth.com |access-date=July 28, 2010 |archive-date=July 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705133933/https://www.emaxhealth.com/48/4247.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Also, during these days, [[estrogen]] levels decline, resulting in a decrease of [[vaginal lubrication|natural lubrication]].

Although some specialists disagree with this theory, [[menopause]] is still considered by the majority a factor that can cause decreased sexual desire in women. The levels of estrogen decrease at menopause and this usually causes a lower interest in sex and vaginal dryness which makes sex painful. However, the levels of testosterone increase at menopause and this may be why some women may experience a contrary effect of an increased libido.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Shearer|first1=Jasmin L|last2= Salmons|first2=Nabeel|last3=Murphy|first3=Damian J|last4= Gama|first4= Rousseau|date=January 2017| title= Postmenopausal hyperandrogenism: the under-recognized value of inhibins| journal=Annals of Clinical Biochemistry| language=en-US| volume= 54| issue= 1|pages=174–177| doi= 10.1177/0004563216656873|pmid=27278937|issn=0004-5632|doi-access= free}}</ref>