Paper Hormones and the menstrual cycle in the behavior of women has been widely studied over the years. This is interesting, since most human physiological problems have been studied much more in men. However, it appears that only women are able to manipulate their own hormones. And the truth is that they exist, but they are not the only ones. The role of ovulation in decision making There is a lot of scientific evidence behind this. Moreover, the role was observed not only in reproductive decisions, but also in those that require some risk.
Roughly speaking, this means that women become more impulsive during ovulation. This is the time of the menstrual cycle when blood pressure rises. birth ratethat’s why he has evolutionary explanation. You think less about the consequences and are more likely to engage in casual sex. Moreover, many studies show that such sporadic sexual relationships usually select people with clearly better genetics. I became slimmer and, apparently, healthier.
On the other hand, there is more than just a connection between ovulation and decision making. During this phase of the menstrual cycle, women usually experience higher sexual desire. Again, this favors relationships that perpetuate the species. Now it is important to make it clear that women are not the weaker sex who can manipulate their own hormones. Regardless of the impact the menstrual cycle has, decisions largely depend on each person’s personality. Moreover, men are also puppets held on strings testosterone. Let’s not think that this is a purely women’s problem.
What is the menstrual cycle in women?
Before we begin, it is important to emphasize that this article talks about cis men and womenas the role of hormones is mentioned, especially estrogen, which is more prevalent in cis women, and testosterone, which is more prevalent in cis men.
At the same time, the female menstrual cycle goes through several phases, which can be called differently, depending on which classification is used. In a broad sense this is pre-ovulatory phase, ovulation, post-ovulatory phase and menstruation.
There are four main hormones that operate throughout the cycle: FSH, LH, progesterone and estrogens. During the preovulatory phase, they all remain more or less stable. FSH stimulates several follicles. These are very rough, are sacs that contain immature eggs called oocytes. They are in the ovaries from birth and begin to mature only after puberty, several in each cycle. One of those oocytesor, in some cases, someone else will prepare to be fertilized if the time comes.
This oocyte will be found inside the so-called dominant follicle. Once this is selected, it begins to secrete large amounts of estrogen, so its level begins to rise, far exceeding the level of other hormones, until it reaches its maximum peak at ovulation. What maximum peak It also causes an increase in the level of LH, the hormone that causes the selected egg to leave the follicle and enter the uterus through the fallopian tubes. Once there, he prepares for the arrival of the sperm. If fertilization occurs, endometriumThe layer lining the uterus must be thick enough to accommodate the embryo. Therefore, during preovulation and ovulation, estrogens ensure its gradual growth.
Last stages
Once the oocyte is released, the follicle from which it came, which is now called corpus luteum, continues to grow for some time, releasing large amounts of progesterone. We are already in the postovulatory phase, in which the endometrium continues to prepare to receive what may become possible embryo.
However, if this does not happen, because no sperm fertilizes the egg, menstruation. The endometrium is no longer needed, so due to a drop in progesterone levels, it begins to shed, causing typical menstrual bleeding. Any previously elevated hormone levels drop again and a new cycle begins.
The role of ovulation in decision making
During the ovulatory phase there is surge in estrogen levels. Numerous studies show that these hormones are responsible for the influence of ovulation on decision making. But what are these solutions?
There is everything. There are well-known studies that show that the likelihood of wanting to have sporadic sexual relationsin which the other person’s physique plays a primary role.
In search of the best musician
There are studies that go much further and demonstrate very interesting solutions. For example, in 2014, a scientist from University of Sussex He wanted to see if Darwin was right in one of his hypotheses. The scientist, father of the theory of evolution, observed how birdsong attracted mates and wondered if the same would happen to humans. In his opinion, music has a reproductive role that goes far beyond songbirds.
Despite Darwin’s importance in the history of science, this hypothesis has never gained much acceptance. But this other scientist, Benjamin Charlton I thought maybe he was right.
So he designed an experiment to test this. Total 1465 women, in different phases of the menstrual cycle. All of them were subjected to two experiments. First they heard musical composition with four different difficulty levels. Afterwards, they were asked which melody they found most challenging and which composer they would most like to have a romantic relationship with. short term or long term.
In the second experiment the same thing was done, but with visual compositionconsisting of a series of mosaics.
When comparing the results of each experiment to the phase of the participants’ menstrual cycle, two interesting findings were observed. On the one hand, this more than 80% volunteers were able to distinguish a complex musical or visual composition. The phase of the menstrual cycle did not affect this at all. However, those who ovulated were much more likely to have a sporadic relationship with the author of the most difficult melody. There were no differences in visual compositions or long-term relationships. Thus, it appears that musical ability influences evolution in the same way as physical ability.
More aggressive solutions
In general, women make less aggressive decisions than men. This applies to any environment, from driving to financial decisions. However, in 2016, a group of scientists from the UK and US showed that at least regarding the economythis trend changes during ovulation.
It was observed that women at this stage tended to take financial solutions much more risky. This may be an unexpected consequence of such impulsiveness that has evolutionary benefits. However, it should be noted that only 36 women took part in the study, so the results should be taken with a grain of salt.
Also in politics
Some studies also find a link between ovulation and political decision-making. In fact, in 2013, a group of researchers from the University of Texas published a very interesting study on this subject.
It involved 502 women who were asked about their political views and decisions to vote in the 2012 US elections. Several factors were taken into account, but only two were found to correlate with the results: phase of the menstrual cycle and marital status.
In particular, single women had more liberal tendencies, especially when they were in the ovulation phase. In fact, during the elections, most of their votes at that stage were cast Barack Obama. On the other hand, married women, especially during the ovulation period, were more conservative. Thus, the majority at that time voted for Mitt Romney.
Not everything is so clear in the relationship between ovulation and decision making.
In 2018, scientists from Max Planck Institute for the Study of Human Development did a very thorough research on this topic. To do this they collaborated with 26,000 women who had to keep an anonymous diary about their inclinations and preferences throughout the menstrual cycle.
In this very comprehensive study it was seen that it is true that during ovulation sexual desire has increased significantly. However, contrary to what other studies show, it increased towards their partners, not towards other people outside the relationship. It was also observed that their perception of their own physique improved, but they did not tend to use sexiest clothes during that period, contrary to what many studies show.
It was found that this increase in sexual desire was suppressed when they took birth control. This has also been observed in other studies and shows that hormones are indeed fundamental document.
Impulsivity has not been studied in depth, but there appears to be a certain predisposition to engage in riskier behavior when fertility is higher. All this indicates that it is true that Ovulation influences decision making. But this is not just a woman’s business.
Men have their own cycles too.
There is a lot of talk about women’s irritability during menstruation. Mood changes as they go through menopause. In general, how hormones manipulate them as they want. But men are not left behind. Another thing is that the changes are not as obvious as monthly bleedingwhich disappears over the years.
But yes, men have cycles both daily and long-term. Your level testosterone They change throughout the day, so your mood, which is heavily influenced by this hormone, may change accordingly. But above all, you can see the changes over the years.
Testosterone levels begin to gradually decrease, making the effects more obvious. from 45 years old. From this point on, men may feel more irritable, depressed and tired. They also find it more difficult to concentrate and sexual desire gradually decreases.
A drop in testosterone levels makes them less hot-tempered and less patient in everyday situations. They turn slaves hormones, like women. In fact, they don’t turn around at this moment. They’ve been there before. Because yes, hormones can say a lot about how we feel and behave. But it also depends a lot on our personality. It’s time to stop blaming hormones for everything we do. Now, if you are a woman and a man makes such a comment to you, tell him not to worry: his son-in-law’s comment was not his doing. Hormones are to blame.
Source: Hiper Textual
