Latest news with #ovulation
Daily Mail
28-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Eau de ovulation: Women smell more attractive to men during their fertile period, study finds
Ladies – if you want to impress on a first date, or get your partner to help with the housework, there could be an easy trick to use. Experts have discovered that your body odour changes throughout the month to coincide with your menstrual cycle. A new study has found that men are more attracted to the smell of women when they are ovulating – the time at which they are most fertile. So influencing their behaviour could all be down to a matter of timing. 'These results suggest that body odour may in some way contribute to communication between men and women,' the researchers explained. For their study, the team from the University of Tokyo recruited 21 women and monitored them for a month. They were asked to wear absorbent pads underneath their arms at the four different stages of their menstrual cycle. Using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, the researchers were able to work out three particular aroma compounds that increased when women were ovulating – which usually occurs on day 14 of a monthly cycle, when a woman is most likely to get pregnant. These included (E)–geranylacetone, which has a fresh, floral and slightly sweet scent and tetradecanoic acid, which has a waxy, soapy–like smell. The scientists then asked men to smell a 'control' odour, collected when a woman was not ovulating, and compare it to the same smell but with these aroma compounds manually added. Analysis revealed that men rated the 'fertile' odours as more pleasant, and ranked the faces associated with the samples as more attractive and more feminine. The scent also seemed to reduce stress, they found, and men found these odours more comforting. 'We identified three body odour components that increased during women's ovulatory periods,' Professor Kazushige Touhara said. 'When men sniffed a mix of those compounds and a model armpit odour, they reported those samples as less unpleasant, and accompanying images of women as more attractive and more feminine. 'Furthermore, these compounds were found to relax the male subjects, compared to a control, and even suppressed the increase in the amount of amylase – a stress biomarker – in their saliva.' Writing in the journal iScience, the team said it has previously been proposed that men find female body odours more attractive during the ovulatory phase. 'We identified three ovulatory phase increasing compounds that mitigate the basal unpleasant axillary odour, resulting in the ovulatory–phase body odour being perceived as the most pleasant by males,' they said. 'Additionally, these compounds alleviated hostility and stress…leading to relaxation in males and an enhanced positive impression of female facial images.' The researchers said changes to odour compounds throughout the menstrual cycle could be linked to fluctuations in hormone concentrations. Previous studies have also found that women's voices during their ovulatory period sound more attractive to men, and that photos of female faces during this time are perceives as more desirable. What are the different stages of the menstrual cycle? The menstrual cycle has four main phases – menstruation, the follicular phase, ovulation and the luteal phase. These phases involve changes in hormone levels and the uterine lining, preparing the body for potential pregnancy. Menstruation: The time when a woman has a period and sheds the lining of her uterus. The average length of a period is 3 to 7 days. Follicular phase: Starts on the first day of a period and lasts for 13 to 14 days. Changing hormone levels cause the uterus lining to thicken and follicles to grow on the surface of the ovaries. Usually only one follicle will mature into an egg. Ovulation: When a mature egg is released from an ovary. This usually happens once a month, about 2 weeks before the next period. This is the time a woman is most fertile. Luteal phase: After ovulation, the egg travels through the fallopian tubes to the uterus. The uterus lining continues to thicken in preparation for pregnancy.
Telegraph
28-07-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Citrus scent released during ovulation ‘makes women more attractive to men'
Women release high levels of citrus-like fragrances in their sweat when ovulating which makes them more attractive to men, a study has found. The discovery explains why women are often perceived as more attractive during this stage of the menstrual cycle, which is when fertility peaks. Japanese scientists took sweat samples from 21 women at each of the four stages of the monthly cycle: menstrual, follicular, ovulatory and luteal. These were randomly presented to 21 men who assessed how the 84 different scents smelled to them and which ones they preferred. A follow-up trial also asked the men to rate the attractiveness of women they were looking at on a screen while different body odour smells were wafting into their nose. The findings revealed 98 chemicals that fluctuate in concentration throughout the menstrual cycle and identified three which are made more during ovulation. E-geranylacetone, tetradecanoic acid and (Z)-9-hexadecenoic acid, the chemicals identified, are known to smell nice or play a role in the olfactory system of humans. The first is a common ingredient in perfumes and smells woody, sweet and fruity, the second is waxy and soapy and is found in nutmeg and coconut oil, and the third is associated with body odour and is known to be musky. The overall impact of these three chemicals is that women smelled less 'vinegary' and more 'fragrant' during ovulation, according to the men in the trial. 'We identified three body odour components that increased during women's ovulatory periods,' said Professor Kazushige Touhara from the University of Tokyo. 'When men sniffed a mix of those compounds and a model armpit odour, they reported those samples as less unpleasant, and accompanying images of women as more attractive and more feminine.' Naturally-produced scents affecting behaviour The men were also found to be less stressed, more comfortable and more relaxed when these chemicals were present at high levels. 'These results suggest that body odour may in some way contribute to communication between men and women,' Prof Touhara added. Previous studies have found that women are considered more attractive to men while ovulating, and there have been suggestions that odour can play a role in this process. But this study is among the first to add scientific credence to the theory that the scents naturally produced by one person can alter the thought process and behaviour of another. Pheromones have long been a staple of films and books as a way for an individual to win the affection of another but their existence among humans is an enduring scientific myth. The Japanese scientists say this study does not 'conclusively say that the compounds are human pheromones' because it is not known yet if these are specific to people only which is needed to meet the definition of pheromones. Pheremone-like compounds Prof Touhara said: 'We were primarily focused on their behavioural or physiological impacts, in this case, the reduction of stress and change in impression when seeing faces. 'So, at this moment, we can say they may be pheromone-like compounds.' The scientists write in their study, published in iScience, that it is possible this process may have evolved from the more crude pheromones of other species to create a 'communicative tool that positively affects emotions in males and induces relaxation and a positive impression toward females'. 'Such a role could function as a discreet but effective cross-sex olfactory signal in a highly developed human society governed by intellect rather than instinct,' they write.
The Sun
16-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Millions of women live life by their menstrual cycle – including when they exercise & what they wear, study shows
A NEW tool tells women the best days of the month to exercise, go on a date, get dressed up for a party, and perform well at work. The calculator has been designed to determine when they will be at their best at different points in their monthly cycle. 1 The nifty asset allows women to input their usual length of cycle and date of last period, before plotting out exactly when they should do – or avoid – certain activities. It has been pulled together by natural period pain supplement monthlies, on the back of its research of 5,000 women in the UK. The findings show millions of women are governed by their menstrual cycle – and its pattern determines when they exercise, how they feel, and what they wear. It emerged 51 per cent feel controlled by their periods – to the extent 32 per cent say it dictates when they have sex, and 21 per cent what and when they eat. Socialising (23 per cent), sleep (20 per cent) and even when to commit to an important meeting (11 per cent) are among the things women plan around their time of the month. The study, by natural period pain supplement brand monthlies, found 54 per cent of those who experience period pain can pinpoint the exact days in the month it will occur. While 91 per cent experience ovulation pain mid-month – with discomfort when the ovaries release the egg felt around days 14 and 15 – with 63 per cent feeling this for more than two days. The average sufferer will also experience bloating for just over seven days of the month. And just seven per cent of lucky women claim to feel balanced and 'normal' for their entire monthly cycle. A spokeswoman for monthlies, which is designed to help with menstrual symptoms and cycle throughout the month, said: 'While this research gives us an 'average' picture of what the monthly cycle can look like, we know every single woman has their own unique set of experiences when it comes to having periods. Ex-Love Islander on what really happens when they get their period in tiny bikinis & the trick that DIDN'T work for her 'And while pain is more commonly felt the few days of bleeding, and at the mid-month point, this is not the case for everyone. 'Every woman needs to learn about their own period journey and work out what works best for them in terms of how to manage their period pain, as well as when to get the best out of themselves personally, professionally and socially.' Women generally do try to stay active for the majority of the month, including when they are on their period (44 per cent) and during ovulation (60 per cent). However, moods can fluctuate throughout the monthly cycle for two thirds of those polled, and six in 10 (59 per cent) often notice differences in their energy levels. Sleep, hunger, and productivity can also vary across the four week cycle. However, on the plus side, the research has highlighted that days 11 to 15 in the average woman's monthly cycle is when they feel the best, have the most energy and the most confidence. These days are also cited as those which are best to take a shopping trip, go out for the evening and feel nicest in clothing. With day 12 voted the best for having sex for the average person experiencing periods polled via OnePoll. The spokeswoman for added: 'Having a period isn't all bad, in fact at times it can be empowering, and depending on what our hormones are doing and when, we can often feel great. 'It's all about learning about your own body, what it responds to, how to look after it and realising that everyone is different.'
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Millions of women say their menstrual cycle dictates what they wear
Millions of women admit they are governed by their menstrual cycle – and its pattern determines when they exercise, how they feel, and what they wear. A report of 5,000 women in the UK discovered 51 per cent feel controlled by their periods – to the extent 32 per cent say it dictates when they have sex, and 21 per cent what and when they eat. Socialising (23 per cent), sleep (20 per cent) and even when to commit to an important meeting (11 per cent) are among the things women plan around their time of the month. The study [ by natural period pain supplement brand monthlies, found 54 per cent of those who experience period pain can pinpoint the exact days in the month it will occur. While 91 per cent experience ovulation pain mid-month – with discomfort when the ovaries release the egg felt around days 14 and 15 – with 63 per cent feeling this for more than two days. The average sufferer will also experience bloating for just over seven days of the month. And just seven per cent of lucky women claim to feel balanced and 'normal' for their entire monthly cycle. A spokeswoman for monthlies, which is designed to help with menstrual symptoms and cycle throughout the month, said: 'Every woman needs to learn about their own period journey and work out what works best for them in terms of how to manage their period pain, as well as when to get the best out of themselves personally, professionally and socially.'
Vogue
10-05-2025
- Health
- Vogue
ChatGPT Helped Get Me Pregnant
Falling pregnant, as the British so elegantly put it, was—for me—a surprisingly efficient affair. I say this not to be glib, but to acknowledge a stroke of fortune, especially at my age of 34. My journey required no specialists, no injections, no alphabet soup of assisted reproductive acronyms. Just a few ovulation strips, a Bluetooth-enabled hormone monitor, and the large language model ChatGPT, which I nicknamed Chatty. If that sounds like a parody of contemporary femininity, I assure you—it was simply my reality. So, in the hopes of demystifying ovulation, luteinizing hormone surges, or the delicate dance of conception to others, allow me to present the story of how I became pregnant—with guidance from a polite robot. It began, as these things do, with a decision. My husband and I determined that 2025 would be the year. In November 2024, we made our first attempt, guided by my period tracker app that used the scant and wildly inconsistent data I fed it to estimate my fertile window. My cycle was irregular; my commitment to inputting my period's start and end dates was even more so. Unsurprisingly, a period arrived in December. I was disappointed, but also energized—I would need to get serious. I was 34 years old. Not old, not young. Statistically speaking, women in their early thirties have about a 20% chance of conceiving each cycle. By thirty-five, that number begins to decline more sharply. The internet is littered with charts meant to alarm, statistics plotted in grim downward curves. Still, most OBs will tell you that thirty-four is a perfectly reasonable age to try. It simply requires a bit more attention to timing—and perhaps a few additional tools. I did what most women do when entering this realm: I turned to friends. Over dinner, I quizzed those recently pregnant on their methods. Gone were the days when ovulation could be loosely inferred from intuition and a calendar—modern methods required data. 'You have to use these strips,' one friend insisted, pushing her phone toward me with an Amazon link. 'The others are garbage.' I ordered a box before the appetizers arrived. These strips—delicate paper things with fuchsia gradients—were designed to detect a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH) in the urine, the spike that precedes ovulation. If the test line matched or darkened beyond the control line, one was said to be fertile. In theory, foolproof. In practice, utterly subjective. I stood in my bathroom many mornings holding a used strip against the printed example on the box, squinting. "Does this look the same to you?" I asked my husband, who is far from a color theorist and really had no business evaluating shades of raspberry pink before 7 a.m.
