Before revision: Literature reviews of research on the effects of the menstrual cycle on women's sexual activity with partners and of the use of the combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP) by women on their sexual desire show that sexual desire is self-reported to be unchanged in most women taking COCPs, but also conclude that the sexual side-effects of COCPs and on sexual desire in particular are not well-studied and that women experience increased sexual activity with partners during the ovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle (when levels of endogenous estradiol are heightened) as compared with other phases.
After revision: Literature reviews of research on the effects of the menstrual cycle on women's sexual activity with partners and of the use of the combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP) by women on their sexual desire show that sexual desire is self-reported to be unchanged in most women taking COCPs, but also conclude that the effects of COCPs on sexual desire is not well-studied and that women experience increased sexual activity with partners during the ovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle (when levels of endogenous estradiol are heightened) as compared with other phases.