Cycles of Myths

Ovulating women are more likely to dress provocatively, to desire men other than their partner, and to engage in more narcissistic behaviors than their nonfertile counterparts—at least, that's what some past research concluded. But while such findings have routinely captured headlines, the body of research as a whole has been criticized for small sample sizes, flawed study designs, and liberally interpreted results.

To address missteps and better understand how cycling hormones affect behavior, a new study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology analyzed more than 26,000 diary entries from 1,043 women. The analysis concluded that some past findings—but not all—hold up. Ovulating women, for example, are more likely to report fantasizing about men other than their partner and tend to perceive themselves as more attractive. But no link emerged between ovulation and revealing clothing, nor was there evidence that fertile women were more self-centered than others.

"We learned that sexual behavior can change, but the further away a trait or behavior is from sex, the less there will be meaningful effects," says lead author Ruben Arslan of Germany's Max Planck Institute for Human Development. The findings can also help women understand why they may feel or act differently throughout their cycle, he says. "Women who have insight into their ovulatory changes could make plans around their changing sexual desire."