Human axillary secretions influence women's menstrual cycles: The role of donor extract from men

Winnifred Berg Cutler; George Preti; Abba Krieger; George R. Huggins; Celso Ramon Garcia; Henry J. Lawley

doi:10.1016/0018-506X(86)90008-5

Human axillary secretions influence women's menstrual cycles: The role of donor extract from men

Winnifred Berg Cutler, George Preti, Abba Krieger, George R. Huggins, Celso Ramon Garcia, Henry J. Lawley

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

118 Scopus citations

Abstract

Menstrual cycle lengths of 29.5 ± 3 days ("normal cycles") are more frequent in women who have weekly coital activity than in women who do not. In order to investigate potential mechanisms controlling the association between heterosexual activity and menstrual cycle length, and in light of the nonhuman literature suggesting that a chemical signal from males could be involved, menstrual cycle lengths of nulliparous women were evaluated following regular application of axillary extract from donor males. Compared to controls receiving only blank/ethanol applications, women receiving axillary extracts for 12.5 to 14.5 weeks showed the following changes: (1) a reduced incidence in variability of cycle lengths; and (2) a reduced proportion of aberrant length cycles.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	463-473
Number of pages	11
Journal	Hormones and Behavior
Volume	20
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/0018-506X(86)90008-5
State	Published - Dec 1986
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Endocrinology
Endocrine and Autonomic Systems
Behavioral Neuroscience

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10.1016/0018-506X(86)90008-5

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@article{71a6ec94fda8479db6997ae0de7c30db,

title = "Human axillary secretions influence women's menstrual cycles: The role of donor extract from men",

abstract = "Menstrual cycle lengths of 29.5 ± 3 days ({"}normal cycles{"}) are more frequent in women who have weekly coital activity than in women who do not. In order to investigate potential mechanisms controlling the association between heterosexual activity and menstrual cycle length, and in light of the nonhuman literature suggesting that a chemical signal from males could be involved, menstrual cycle lengths of nulliparous women were evaluated following regular application of axillary extract from donor males. Compared to controls receiving only blank/ethanol applications, women receiving axillary extracts for 12.5 to 14.5 weeks showed the following changes: (1) a reduced incidence in variability of cycle lengths; and (2) a reduced proportion of aberrant length cycles.",

author = "Cutler, {Winnifred Berg} and George Preti and Abba Krieger and Huggins, {George R.} and Garcia, {Celso Ramon} and Lawley, {Henry J.}",

note = "Funding Information: This study was supported in part by a grant from the National Science Foundation, BNS 82-02018.W e thank Dr. Gary K. Beauchamp and Dr. Charles Wysocki for their constructive commentsc oncerningthe manuscript,M rs. Helen Liebich for her technical assistance,a nd Mrs. Janice Blescia for processingt he manuscript.D r. James Leyden, Ken McGinley, and Joseph Nicholson of the DuhringL aboratoriesa re thankedf or their screening of potential subjects for the correct axillary microfloraa nd odor production.",

year = "1986",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1016/0018-506X(86)90008-5",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "20",

pages = "463--473",

journal = "Hormones and Behavior",

issn = "0018-506X",

publisher = "Academic Press Inc.",

number = "4",

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T1 - Human axillary secretions influence women's menstrual cycles

T2 - The role of donor extract from men

AU - Cutler, Winnifred Berg

AU - Preti, George

AU - Krieger, Abba

AU - Huggins, George R.

AU - Garcia, Celso Ramon

AU - Lawley, Henry J.

N1 - Funding Information: This study was supported in part by a grant from the National Science Foundation, BNS 82-02018.W e thank Dr. Gary K. Beauchamp and Dr. Charles Wysocki for their constructive commentsc oncerningthe manuscript,M rs. Helen Liebich for her technical assistance,a nd Mrs. Janice Blescia for processingt he manuscript.D r. James Leyden, Ken McGinley, and Joseph Nicholson of the DuhringL aboratoriesa re thankedf or their screening of potential subjects for the correct axillary microfloraa nd odor production.

PY - 1986/12

Y1 - 1986/12

N2 - Menstrual cycle lengths of 29.5 ± 3 days ("normal cycles") are more frequent in women who have weekly coital activity than in women who do not. In order to investigate potential mechanisms controlling the association between heterosexual activity and menstrual cycle length, and in light of the nonhuman literature suggesting that a chemical signal from males could be involved, menstrual cycle lengths of nulliparous women were evaluated following regular application of axillary extract from donor males. Compared to controls receiving only blank/ethanol applications, women receiving axillary extracts for 12.5 to 14.5 weeks showed the following changes: (1) a reduced incidence in variability of cycle lengths; and (2) a reduced proportion of aberrant length cycles.

AB - Menstrual cycle lengths of 29.5 ± 3 days ("normal cycles") are more frequent in women who have weekly coital activity than in women who do not. In order to investigate potential mechanisms controlling the association between heterosexual activity and menstrual cycle length, and in light of the nonhuman literature suggesting that a chemical signal from males could be involved, menstrual cycle lengths of nulliparous women were evaluated following regular application of axillary extract from donor males. Compared to controls receiving only blank/ethanol applications, women receiving axillary extracts for 12.5 to 14.5 weeks showed the following changes: (1) a reduced incidence in variability of cycle lengths; and (2) a reduced proportion of aberrant length cycles.

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JO - Hormones and Behavior

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ER -

Human axillary secretions influence women's menstrual cycles: The role of donor extract from men

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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