Review article

Ovulation cues in women's fertile phase

Irena Pavela orcid.org/0000-0003-2237-978X ; Sveučilište u Zadru, Odjel za psihologiju
Nataša Šimić ; Sveučilište u Zadru, Odjel za psihologiju
Matilda Nikolić ; Sveučilište u Zadru, Odjel za psihologiju

Abstract

Comparative research conducted on mammalian females, including women, has led to the conclusion that women have lost explicit ovulation cues throughout evolution. However, over the past decade, results of numerous studies imply that ovulation is not entirely concealed. The aim of this paper is to give a review and synthesis of previous findings which show that the most fertile period is characterized by various changes in behaviour.
One of those changes is shift in preference for different male characteristics. The fertile phase is also characterized by changes in sexual behaviour, i.e. they feel more attractive, take more care of their physical appearance, use more beauty products, more often initiate sexual intercourse and fantasize more about sex. Furthermore, changes in the levels of jealousy are also found. All of these changes are assumed to represent revolutionary adaptive mechanisms. At the same time, different mechanisms developed that enabled men to detect a fertile phase in order to enhance their reproductive success. Detection of the fertile phase is based on olfactory, visual and auditory information.

Keywords

fertile phase; menstrual cycle; ovulation cues

Hrčak ID:

152227

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/152227

Publication date:

29.1.2016.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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