Betazoid phase

The Betazoid phase or more commonly known as "the Phase" is a physiological phase that all Betazoid and half-Betazoid females enter during mid-life, similar to Human menopause. It is only during "the Phase" that a Betazoid female becomes fully sexual as the sex drive of the female in question quadruples or more. Some females engage in sexual relationships with any male available while others focus their attention on a single male who will later become her husband. In the event that a male spurns the female's advances, the female would be deeply offended and take the rejection personally. In some cases, the female's telepathic abilities are impeded by "the Phase".

At the beginning of her relationship with William T. Riker, Deanna Troi "warned" Will of "the Phase" although she did not tell him that her sex drive could increase by more than four times in case that frightened him.

In 2365, Lwaxana Troi entered "the Phase", making advances on William Riker, Jean-Luc Picard as well as a hologram, Rex. (TNG: "Manhunt")

It is unclear how accurate an analogy this phenomenon is to Human menopause. When describing the condition, Counsellor Troi does make the comparison (TNG: "Manhunt"), though the one Betazoid seen to go through the Phase, Lwaxana Troi, has a child seven years later. (DS9: "The Muse") Human menopause, of course, means the end of a woman's capacity to have children.

See Also

• Pon farr, a similar physiological phase for Vulcans.