Recent research challenges the long-held belief that men are more attracted to the scent of women during their peak fertility. Despite previous studies suggesting that female body odor changes with the menstrual cycle—potentially signaling fertility to men—a new study from Germany has found no significant evidence to support this theory.
Researchers from Leipzig University conducted an investigation to determine if men are indeed more attracted to the scent of women during their fertile window. Their study involved collecting and analyzing body odor samples from 29 non-smoking heterosexual women aged 20 to 30 over several menstrual cycle phases. Hormonal levels and ovulation were monitored to confirm the timing of fertility.
The study, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, reported no significant differences in the chemical composition of body odor between women’s fertile and non-fertile days. Further testing involved 91 men rating the odors of cotton pads worn by the women overnight at various cycle stages. Again, no substantial correlation was found between men’s odor ratings and the women’s fertility status.
Madita Zetzsche, a graduate student at Leipzig University and lead author of the study, emphasized that these findings should prompt a re-evaluation of the concept. “We are not dismissing previous research but suggest revisiting the topic using more advanced techniques,” Zetzsche noted.
The study’s results contrast with earlier research, such as a 2012 study from UCLA that claimed men were more attracted to the scent of fertile women. Similarly, a 2018 study by Daria Knoch at the University of Berne found that reproductive hormone levels could explain variations in female body odor.
Knoch commented on the new study, describing it as “interesting” yet “surprising” from an evolutionary standpoint. She suggested that future research could benefit from considering the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)—genes that influence body odor and potentially impact scent preferences.
This latest research adds a new dimension to the ongoing debate about the relationship between fertility and body odor, highlighting the need for further exploration in the field.
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