Before revision: Literature reviews of research on variation during the menstrual cycle of women's sexual activity with partners and the effects 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 women's 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.
After revision: Literature reviews of research on variation during the menstrual cycle of women's sexual activity with partners and the effects 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 women's 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 luteinizing hormones are heightened) as compared with other phases.