“Ovulation goggles” at work - help!

[UpToMyElbowsInDiapers]

I’m more than a decade into my career in a male dominated industry, and I’m now reasonably senior. All this time I’ve been on hormonal birth control, pregnant or breastfeeding, with absolutely zero libido (I thought that was just the way I was wired). When people talked about the idea of workplace crushes, I thought they were insane.

My DH got the snip a while ago, and so I’m no longer on birth control. My periods have become regular for the first time in my life. And… about 6 days per month now, around ovulation, I swear every guy at work seems 1000x more attractive. No less than a quarter of my office (of 500 people!) seem like the man of my dreams.

In the past, I could work with people who were objectively stunning, and feel not a thing. Now, in my fertile window, “Anthony” on my team smells amazing (omg that smell), “Alex” in IT has the most charming and endearing smile. WTF?!

I feel attracted to half the men around me. Obviously I would never act on anything and I keep conversations 100% professional, but IT’S DISTRACTING! Also - my biggest fear - CAN THEY TELL???

Is this just my life from now until menopause? How do people handle this? It’s a whole new world for me. Help!

I just enjoy it! After a few days I'm back to miserable me and just think wtf!!! It's really interesting though.

Haha I hadn’t thought about trying to enjoy it. I don’t know… it feels like high school. Like, I hope some guy will notice me, and I have butterflies in my belly… but I’m a happily-married mother of three…?

It makes going to work more fun!

This is when I make bad decisions as a single woman haha

That guy who is noooo good for me is usually messaged... Oooops

I can't say I've experienced this.

I also get this - mother natures way of ensuring the world maintains its population I suppose!

Haha I clicked on this as the thread title intrigued me.

I'm past the days of ovulation and am menopausal but have come to the conclusion that "menopausal goggles" must be a thing too 😯 as I'm currently finding myself attracted to male colleagues voices/smiles/smells

Maybe they're genuinely attractive? Or has that been excluded as a possibility?!

😂😂😂 luckily I work mainly with women so have only found it’s my husband that gets all my affection 😍 he’s wonderful and have always loved him whether on pill etc but now not on anything it’s like being back in the first flush of love once a month 🤣 think he just thinks I’m just slightly dotty. I can understand how marriages lasted so much longer in the old days

Maybe they're genuinely attractive? Or has that been excluded as a possibility?!

In my case they're only attractive for about 3 days!!!

Oh, this is totally a thing, OP! I just laugh at myself and enjoy it for the few days it lasts. If I have a month where my hormones aren't doing their usual thing, I totally miss it! Anyway, after the ovulation goggles are 'put away' for the month, it's all downhill for a couple of weeks until the premenstrual goggles, where I'm looking around and saying to myself 'what the fuck was I thinking??'.

Oh dear. 😂

<unhelpful, but still... lol>

I've spent most of my life off all BC. I'd say it gets easier...but it doesn't! Like others I've just learned to enjoy it. Men can notice little things when it's ovulation time too and that in itself is quite fun as they suddenly find us more attractive. It all makes life a bit more exciting and I definitely prefer mid cycle me to pms me 2 days before I'm due on who can't bear men and feels repulsed by the idea of sex!

Oh I used to love this! 45 now and likely peri, haven’t felt it for ages 😩

It’s my favourite time of the month!!

It’s a game of roulette to see which bloke will catch my eye each month. It’s great fun 😁

Does it bother you that birth control might have suppressed your libido for years, or are you happy that you feel this now? Are you also attracted to your husband??

I get this. A frustrating and existentially depressing experience for me now. I dread it more than PMS. Obviously if I spent my life going clubbing and out on the pull then it would be the most fun ever.

I'm ridiculous around ovulation time too. I have a theory that men must feel like they're ovulating all the time.

Oh it definitely bothers me - birth control really messed with me on so many levels. Libido, weight, mood, who knows what else. But at least I only had 3 kids after 25 rather than 10 kids after 18.

Thankfully I’m reasonably attracted to my DH at this time of the month as well. I don’t get the butterflies I seem to get with random ovulation crushes (forbidden lust, I guess?) but I’m definitely keen to spend the night together (until the snoring starts).