In an online survey of 585 women aged 18–40, participants were somewhat more likely to report increases in desire and especially lubrication during the presumed ovulatory phase. The survey asked whether they noticed changes and when; neither ovulation nor hormone levels were measured in a laboratory. Answers varied widely, and age, having a partner, and hormonal contraception were associated with some differences in the results.
In another study, 213 female university students recorded their desire daily over two cycles. There was a small mid-cycle increase on average, but individual patterns differed: some experienced an increase in the middle, others closer to menstruation, and others no noticeable change. A sample of university students cannot describe all women either.
Lubrication, desire, and readiness for sex do not always coincide. A physical response alone does not indicate desire or consent. Keeping notes about your cycle may help you notice your own patterns, if you do it out of curiosity rather than to check whether your body is responding “correctly.”