s*x and your cycle

Hey sexy 😍

In a drop 🩸: inspired by our “sex after birth” podcast episode with Clio, we're talking about sex. How does your cycle impact your sex drive? Why should we give a sh*t about our sex life? What do hormones have to do with it?

"When you read "Hey sexy" at the top of the page, did you embrace it or did you cringe a little? 

I tend to cringe a little, and I fully accept that that's becaue whilst I'm completely at ease with the menstrual cycle, I still have some reservations around sex. 

And guess what, the menstrual cycle and sex are totally linked! Two taboos - intertwined. 

Just like you can use your cycle to "bio-hack" your work, you can also use it to "bio-hack" your sex life. 

Different people experience this in different ways, and of course it can vary from cycle to cycle. Sometimes, my period makes me hornier (more blood flow to the vagina) and sometimes I'm so bloated and tired I don't want anybody to step near my body  (👀). 

However, here are some usual pointers: 

🩸just after your period (follicular phase - 10-22 days): your vagina ma be a little dry so lube up, but it's a great time to try new things

🩸ovulatory phase: sex drive at it's peak! That's when our biology is pushing us to make babies, so naturally we'll feel more horny and naturally lubricated.

🩸luteal (pre-period) phase: our drive and lubrication steadily wanes as the oestrogen hormone does too

🩸menstrual phase (): extra blood flow may make you extra horny, but remember menstrual blood is not a natural lubricator! 

Fun fact: clitoral stimulation and penetration may help relieve menstrual cramps (just like exercise does).

Note! Your sex drive is linked to sooooooo many things: nutrition, stress, exercise, hydration, pelvic floor muscles, and lots more. So while it's super helpful to understand how it's linked to your menstrual cycle, if you're struggling with your sex drive, don't forget to consider other factors too! 

Why should you give a sh*t about your sex drive? 

That's a question I asked Clio on our podcast this week. So often, women put their sex drive aside and don't consider it an issue, leading to the >> gender pleasure gap (oh yes!) . Sexual wellbeing is a core part of health and our relationships, which are themselves part of our health. 

Moreover, sexual wellbeing helps with all sorts of things, like sleep, body awareness and intuition, hormonal balance, mental health, and lots more. 

If I haven't convinced you listen to the pod 

Prioritising our sexual wellbeing and pleasure is not always easy. So if you're struggling or you have in the past, it's totally okay. There's so much shame around sex, especially for women: know that you're not alone.

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