| Title: | Social chemosignals from breastfeeding women increase sexual motivation |
| Author(s): | Spencer NA; McClintock MK; Sellergren SA; Bullivant S; Jacob S; Mennella JA; |
| Address: | "The Institute for Mind and Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2004.06.002 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 0018-506X (Print) 0018-506X (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Human pheromones, a type of social chemosignal, modulate endocrine function by regulating the timing of ovulation. In animals, pheromones not only regulate ovulation but also female reproductive motivation and behavior. There is no extant evidence that humans produce social chemosignals that affect human sexual motivation or reproductive behavior as occurs in other mammals. Here, we demonstrate that natural compounds collected from lactating women and their breastfeeding infants increased the sexual motivation of other women, measured as sexual desire and fantasies. Moreover, the manifestation of increased sexual motivation was different in women with a regular sexual partner. Those with a partner experienced enhanced sexual desire, whereas those without one had more sexual fantasies. These results are consistent with previous pheromonal effects on endocrine function, and warrant further study of these social chemosignals as candidates for pheromonal processes, including their effects on other aspects of motivation and behavior" |
| Keywords: | "Adolescent Adult Affect Biological Factors/metabolism/physiology *Breast Feeding Double-Blind Method Female Humans Infant Infant, Newborn *Motivation Pheromones/metabolism/*physiology Reference Values Sexual Behavior/*physiology/psychology Skin/metabolism;Animals;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineSpencer, Natasha A McClintock, Martha K Sellergren, Sarah A Bullivant, Susan Jacob, Suma Mennella, Julie A eng Clinical Trial Randomized Controlled Trial Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. 2004/08/25 Horm Behav. 2004 Sep; 46(3):362-70. doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2004.06.002" |
