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Front Endocrinol (Lausanne)

Title:		"Changes in Men's Salivary Testosterone and Cortisol Levels, and in Sexual Desire after Smelling Female Axillary and Vulvar Scents"
Author(s):		Cerda-Molina AL; Hernandez-Lopez L; de la OC; Chavira-Ramirez R; Mondragon-Ceballos R;
Address:		"Departamento de Etologia, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatria Ramon de la Fuente Muniz , Ciudad de Mexico , Mexico"
Journal Title:		Front Endocrinol (Lausanne)
Year:		2013
Volume:		20131028
Issue:
Page Number:		159 -
DOI:		10.3389/fendo.2013.00159
ISSN/ISBN:		1664-2392 (Print) 1664-2392 (Electronic) 1664-2392 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Several studies have shown that a woman's vaginal or axillary odors convey information on her attractivity. Yet, whether such scents induce psychoneuroendocrinological changes in perceivers is still controversial. We studied if smelling axillary and vulvar odors collected in the periovulatory and late luteal phases of young women modify salivary testosterone and cortisol levels, as well as sexual desire in men. Forty-five women and 115 men, all of them college students and unacquainted with each other, participated in the study. Female odors were collected on pads affixed to the axilla and on panty protectors both worn the entire night before experiments. Men provided five saliva samples, a basal one before the smelling procedure, and four more 15, 30, 60, and 75 min after exposure to odors. Immediately after smelling the odor source, men answered a questionnaire rating hedonic qualities of scents, and after providing the last saliva sample they answered questionnaire on sexual desire. We found that periovulatory axillary and vulvar odors increased testosterone and cortisol levels, with vulvar scents producing a more prolonged effect. Luteal axilla odors decreased testosterone and cortisol levels, while luteal vulva odors increased cortisol. Periovulatory axilla and vulva scents accounted for a general increase of interest in sex. These odors were also rated as more pleasant and familiar, while luteal vulvar odors were perceived as intense and unpleasant"
Keywords:		cortisol menstrual cycle semiochemical communication sexual desire testosterone women's attractivity;
Notes:		"PubMed-not-MEDLINECerda-Molina, Ana Lilia Hernandez-Lopez, Leonor de la O, Claudio E Chavira-Ramirez, Roberto Mondragon-Ceballos, Ricardo eng Switzerland 2013/11/07 Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2013 Oct 28; 4:159. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2013.00159. eCollection 2013"