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Susan Kellogg Spadt, PhD, CRNP, IF, CST

Pelvic Pain Specialist

Professor of OB-GYN at Drexel University College of Medicine

Professor of Human Sexuality at Widener University

Assistant Professor at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Bryn Mawr, PA

Dr. Susan Kellogg Spadt is a nationally recognized expert in pelvic/vulvar pain and sexual dysfunction who treats patients from the greater Philadelphia/tri-state area and throughout the United States. She performs direct patient care and consultative services as a vulvar specialist, sexual dysfunction clinician and therapist.

Dr. Susan Kellog Spadt is a professor of OB-GYN at Drexel University College of Medicine; professor of human sexuality at Widener University; assistant professor at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and clinical associate faculty at the University of Pennsylvania and Thomas Jefferson University. She is a certified sexual therapist and educator and is a fellow of the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health.

Dr. Susan Kellogg Spadt has authored/co-authored two books, 15 book chapters, more than 75 peer-reviewed articles, and has been a featured columnist in Women's Health Care, The Female Patient, Contemporary Sexuality, and The New York Times.

She speaks internationally on genital health and human sexuality and has been featured in popular venues, including The Today, Show, 20/20, CNN, Cosmopolitan, Discovery Channel and WebMD.

Dr. Susan Kellogg Spadt is currently the director of female medicine at the Center for Pelvic Medicine, Academic Urology of PA, LLC.

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Depressed woman with her boyfriend in bedroom

Diminished Sex Drive Caused by Menstruation

Ask the Expert

This article has been archived. We will no longer be updating it. For our most up-to-date information, please visit our menstrual period information here.

Q:

Why does a woman's sex drive drop when she's menstruating?

A:

Hmmm. It sounds as if your sex drive is diminished during your menstrual cycle. Because if there's one thing that's important to understand about a woman's sexual drive, it's that it is all individual. Having said that, there is evidence that the peaks and valleys of various hormones throughout a woman's menstrual cycle (not just when she's menstruating) can affect her libido, or sexual desire.

For instance, one 2004 study found that women tend to be more sexually active on days just prior to and during ovulation (from about day 10 to 15 of your monthly cycle), when levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) rise. This makes sense given our genetic programming to reproduce.

Other studies find that women who experience various symptoms before their period (bloating, headaches, mood changes, etc.) are less interested in having sex and have less sex than other times of their cycle. One study even found these women have less frequent orgasms and get less satisfaction from their orgasms just before their periods than in the middle of their cycles. Conversely, another study found that women without any premenstrual symptoms were more interested in sex just before their periods than in the middle of their cycle.

See what I mean? Every woman is different.

As for sexual desire during her period, well, there are lots of reasons as to why a woman might be less interested in sex. She might be having cramps, heavy bleeding (which can make sex messy), or not feel at her best because of bloating.

If you feel less desire during your period and it's a problem for you or your partner, I recommend talking to your health care professional or a qualified therapist. There may be some hidden issues contributing to your lack of desire that can be resolved. However, if your lack of desire during these few days of your cycle isn't causing any problems or concerns for you or your partner, then I would simply chalk it up to your own personal "sexual desire" personality, and not worry about it.

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