Monthly mood swings may help women to get pregnant, according to a new study.
A team of US scientists have discovered that fluctuations in levels of the female sex hormone oestrogen affect the responsiveness of the brain’s “reward system”, with a peak in the first part of the menstrual cycle. 
This reward system dictates the amount of pleasure attained from various activities, whether it be from having sex or from eating chocolate.
“Increased activity of the brain’s reward system at this time could boost anticipation and enjoyment of sexual activity,” said Dr Karen Berman of the US National Institute of Mental Health, who worked on the study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
For instance, four to eight days after menstrual bleeding started, the orbiofrontal cortex and amygdala of the brain were more active.
This might help explain other studies that show women get a bigger kick from cocaine and amphetamines during the earlier stage of their fertility cycle, the researchers added.
Via Telegraph.co.uk
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