Distribution of Coitus in the Menstrual Cycle

The distribution of events in the human menstrual cycle

“…The high point on most of the graphs falls about 6 days before mid-cycle, which is consistent with the pioneering observations of McCance, Luff & Widdowson (1937), and is different from the observations reported in our previous samples (Udry & Morris, 1968,1970, however the data were organized. It is also similar to some of the observations organized by James (1971) In the future, we can only support the use of the menstrual marker for influences on sexual behaviour believed to be directly related to menstruation.…”

“…There was no practical way of doing this before the advent of radioimmunoassay techniques, except for the microscopic examination of vaginal squamous cells which could be used to identify the time of appearance of progesterone (Benedek, 1939 We have examined the patterns of distribution of sexual behaviour during the menstrual cycle of women by collecting daily reports of behaviour to avoid the bias of retrospective data collection. In our first study we organized the data by relating them to reverse menstrual cycle days (Udry & Morris, 1968), but on the basis of papers by others we used standardized cycle days in our second study (Udry & Morris, 1970). In both studies we found a mid-cycle peak and a luteal trough in sexual activity, a pattern which is altered by the administration of contraceptive pills (Udry, Morris & Waller, 1973 (Spitz, Gold & Adams, 1975 fig.…”

“…Most writers on the subject have related the presumption to a theory of hormonal effects on behaviour. An association of violence and behavioural disorders with the premenstrual days has been proposed (Ellis & Austin, 1971) and sexual desire and sexual behaviour have been associated with menstrual rhythms (Udry & Morris, 1968). Other emotional states have been shown to vary according to menstrual patterns (Moos et al, 1969).…”

Female Sexual Arousal and the Menstrual Cycle

“…10 Furthermore, the premenstrual peak as well as the one appearing near the time of ovulation (i.e., day -13) are congruent with reported increases of orgasm. 5 However, the peak which appears near the time of ovulation and the low during the fi rst four menstruating days are not in agreement with results reported by Hite. 11 In her study 56 percent of women reported highest sexual arousal during menstruation and only 11 percent around ovulation.…”

“…Highs and lows in sexual arousal have been found at different points in the menstrual cycle by different investigators. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Some researchers have suggested that cultural or cognitive factors, rather than hormonal factors, are responsible for fl uctuations in female sexual arousal, 8,12 and that any self-reported cyclical variability in moods may be due to women's misattributions. 13 Finally, James 7 suggested that there is little evidence for cyclical variability in female sexual arousal and some evidence that cyclicity in coital rates is determined "very largely" by the male.…”