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J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care

Title:		Is 3alpha-androstenol pheromone related to menstrual synchrony?
Author(s):		Jahanfar S; Awang CH; Rahman RA; Samsuddin RD; See CP;
Address:		"Royal College of Medicine, University of Kuala Lumpur, Perak, Malaysia. Jahanfar2000@yahoo.com"
Journal Title:		J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care
Year:		2007
Volume:		33
Issue:		2
Page Number:		116 - 118
DOI:		10.1783/147118907780254042
ISSN/ISBN:		1471-1893 (Print) 1471-1893 (Linking)
Abstract:		"BACKGROUND AND METHODOLOGY: The ovarian cycles of females living and interacting together may synchronise due to pheromones released from axillary secretary glands, the highest concentration of which is produced in the mid-follicular phase, prior to ovulation. The objective of this study was to find evidence for menstrual synchrony in a group of female students living together and to obtain a correlation between the ability to smell the putative pheromone, 5alpha-androst-16-en-3alpha-ol (3alpha-androstenol), found in apocrine secretions and menstrual synchrony. This cross-sectional study involved 88 students who completed a standard questionnaire and whose sense of smell was measured using ten varying thresholds. The menstrual history, friendship scale and menstrual hygiene score was determined for the participants. RESULTS: A total of 59.1% of the subjects studied were found to have menstrual synchrony. There was no significant association between menstrual synchrony and smelling threshold. However, a significant correlation was found between menstrual synchrony and personal hygiene score (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The phenomenon of menstrual synchrony may be related to various factors. The results failed to demonstrate any significant difference between synchronised and non-synchronised subjects in detecting the steroid by sense of smell. However, the odours associated with menstrual blood or vaginal discharge might have an affect on menstrual synchrony"
Keywords:		Adult *Androstenols Cross-Sectional Studies Female Humans Menstrual Cycle/*physiology *Pheromones;
Notes:		"MedlineJahanfar, Shayesteh Awang, Che Haslinawati Che Rahman, Raihan Abd Samsuddin, Rinni Damayanti See, Chin Pui eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2007/04/05 J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care. 2007 Apr; 33(2):116-8. doi: 10.1783/147118907780254042"