How Pheromones Could Impact Your Menstrual Cycle

• Studies have suggested that pheromone exposure may lead to menstrual synchrony in women.
• A double-blind experiment showed a reduction in the cycle-day difference between donor and recipient women after daily application of an axillary pad extract onto their upper lip over 3 cycles.
• It is believed this effect may be mediated by alterations in hypothalamic-pituitary regulation, as exposure to male axillary extracts has been shown to shorten the LH pulse interval by 20%.
• However, Strassmann (1999) has criticized some studies on menstrual synchrony due to lack of anthropological evidence from African communities living close together.
• At present, further validation is needed before any firm conclusions can be drawn regarding potential effects of pheromones on the menstrual cycle.

From ancient myths to modern science, the idea of menstrual synchrony has been around for centuries. But what does it actually mean? In simple terms, menstrual synchrony is a phenomenon where women who live or work together experience a coordination of their menstrual cycles. This phenomenon is popularly believed to be caused by an exchange of pheromones – airborne chemicals we release that can affect the behaviors and physiology of other members of our species. Let’s take a look at some studies conducted on this subject and their implications.

The Double-Blind Experiment

The most famous study on pheromones and menstrual synchrony was conducted in 1971 by Martha McClintock, an undergraduate student at Harvard University. She performed a double-blind experiment involving 135 female college students living in dormitories located on the Harvard campus. She found that when women were randomly assigned roommates with different menstrual cycle lengths, they were more likely to become synchronized than when they were paired with roommates whose cycle lengths matched theirs. She hypothesized that an exchange of pheromones was responsible for this synchronization effect.

Criticisms of Menstrual Synchrony Studies

Despite the popularity of McClintock’s research, it has not gone without criticism. One controversial figure in this field is Dr. David Strassman, who argued that previous studies did not take into account possible psychological effects that could have influenced the participants’ behavior and reporting (i.e., social desirability bias). Other researchers have pointed out that there is little evidence from African communities living close together that would support the idea of menstrual synchrony occurring naturally in humans due to pheromonal influences; instead, such studies suggest that other factors such as diet and lifestyle are more likely to be responsible for any observed synchronization effects.

Future Validation Needed for Firm Conclusions Regarding Pheromones and Menstrual Cycle Effects

It is clear that further research needs to be done in order to validate any theories related to how pheromones might influence our menstrual cycles. Of particular interest would be longitudinal studies examining larger populations over longer periods of time and anthropological evidence from traditional African societies living close together without modern hygiene practices or contraception methods such as tampons or pads which could mask natural scent signals if present. If proven true, these findings could have far-reaching implications for reproductive health and women’s wellbeing worldwide.