Endocrinology of human female sexuality, mating, and reproductive behavior

Motta‐Mena, Natalie V.; Puts, David A.

doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2016.11.012

Cited by 77 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 312 publications

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“…A vast body of experimental research suggests that androgen action during critical periods in early development plays a crucial role in the creation of somatic and behavioral sex differences across mammalian species (for reviews, see McCarthy & Arnold, 2011;Motta-Mena & Puts, 2017). Behavioral effects on copulation, aggression, and rough-and-tumble play result from organizational (i.e., permanent) effects of androgens or their metabolites on the brain.…”

Section: A Role For Organizational Testosterone Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

2D:4D Suggests a Role of Prenatal Testosterone in Gender Dysphoria

et al. 2020

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Gender dysphoria (GD) reflects distress caused by incongruence between one's experienced gender identity and one's natal (assigned) gender. Previous studies suggest that high levels of prenatal testosterone (T) in natal females and low levels in natal males might contribute to GD. Here, we investigated if the 2D:4D digit ratio, a biomarker of prenatal T effects, is related to GD. We first report results from a large Iranian sample, comparing 2D:4D in 104 transwomen and 89 transmen against controls of the same natal sex. We found significantly lower (less masculine) 2D:4D in transwomen compared to control men. We then conducted random-effects meta-analyses of relevant studies including our own (k = 6, N = 925 for transwomen and k = 6, N = 757 for transmen). In line with the hypothesized prenatal T effects, transwomen showed significantly feminized 2D:4D (d ≈ 0.24). Conversely, transmen showed masculinized 2D:4D (d ≈ − 0.28); however, large unaccounted heterogeneity across studies emerged, which makes this effect less meaningful. These findings support the idea that high levels of prenatal T in natal females and low levels in natal males play a part in the etiology of GD. As we discuss, this adds to the evidence demonstrating the convergent validity of 2D:4D as a marker of prenatal T effects.

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Section: A Role For Organizational Testosterone Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

2D:4D Suggests a Role of Prenatal Testosterone in Gender Dysphoria

et al. 2020

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“…Furthermore, two large recent studies suggest that women's attraction to men in general, rather than their mate preferences, shifts across the ovulatory cycle (Jünger et al, 2018a;. Additionally, two meta-analyses analyzing mostly the same datasets (Gildersleeve et al 2014a;Wood et al 2014) came to opposite conclusions regarding ovulatory cycle shifts in women's mate preferences, although the methods of Wood and colleagues (2014) have been criticized (Gildersleeve et al, 2014b;Motta-Mena & Puts, 2017). Given this mixed pattern of findings and the centrality of putative ovulatory shifts in current theorizing about human sexual selection, it is clear that there is an urgent need for further research to determine a) the nature of any shifts in women's preferences for masculine features over the ovulatory cycle, and b) the hormonal correlates of any cycle shifts in women's mate preferences.…”

Section: Theoretical Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do women's preferences for masculine voices shift across the ovulatory cycle?

Jünger

Motta‐Mena

Cárdenas

et al. 2018

Hormones and Behavior

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Are estrous mate preference shifts robust? This question is the subject of controversy within human evolutionary sciences. For nearly two decades, mate preference shifts across the ovulatory cycle were considered an important feature of human sexual selection, directing women's attention towards mates with indicators of "good genes" in their fertile phase, when conception is possible. However, several recent studies on masculine faces, bodies and behaviors did not find evidence supporting this account, known as the good genes ovulatory shift hypothesis. Furthermore, evidence that preferences for masculine characteristics in men's voices are related to women's cycle phase and hormonal status is still equivocal. Here, we report two independent within-subject studies from different labs with large sample sizes (N = 202 tested twice in Study 1; N = 157 tested four times in Study 2) investigating cycle shifts in women's preferences for masculine voices. In both studies, hormonal status was assessed directly using salivary assays of steroid hormones. We did not find evidence for effects of cycle phase, conception risk, or steroid hormone levels on women's preferences for masculine voices. Rather, our studies partially provide evidence for cycle shifts in women's general attraction to men's voices regardless of masculine characteristics. Women's relationship status and self-reported stress did not moderate these findings, and the hormonal pattern that influences these shifts remains somewhat unclear. We consider how future work can clarify the mechanisms underlying psychological changes across the ovulatory cycle.

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“…Links between within-subject changes in steroid hormone levels and sexual desire in circum-menopausal and post-menopausal women have been extensively studied (reviewed in Cappelletti &Wallen, 2016 andMotta-Mena &Puts, 2017). While it is well established that sexual desire varies across the menstrual cycle in young adult women (reviewed in Motta-Mena & Puts, 2017 and Roney & Simmons, 2013), surprisingly little is known about the specific hormonal correlates of within-subject changes in young adult women's sexual desire Motta-Mena & Puts, 2017;Roney & Simmons, 2013Wallen, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

General sexual desire, but not desire for uncommitted sexual relationships, tracks changes in women’s hormonal status

Jones

Hahn

Fisher

et al. 2018

Psychoneuroendocrinology

100

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Several recent longitudinal studies have investigated the hormonal correlates of both young adult women's general sexual desire and, more specifically, their desire for uncommitted sexual relationships. Findings across these studies have been mixed, potentially because each study tested only small samples of women (Ns = 43, 33, and 14). Here we report results from a much larger (N = 375) longitudinal study of hormonal correlates of young adult women's general sexual desire and their desire for uncommitted sexual relationships. Our analyses suggest that within-woman changes in general sexual desire are negatively related to progesterone, but are not related to testosterone or cortisol. We observed some positive relationships for estradiol, but these were generally only significant for solitary sexual desire. By contrast with our results for general sexual desire, analyses showed no evidence that changes in women's desire for uncommitted sexual relationships are related to their hormonal status. Together, these results suggest that changes in hormonal status contribute to changes in women's general sexual desire, but do not influence women's desire for uncommitted sexual relationships.

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Endocrinology of human female sexuality, mating, and reproductive behavior

Cited by 77 publications

References 312 publications

2D:4D Suggests a Role of Prenatal Testosterone in Gender Dysphoria

2D:4D Suggests a Role of Prenatal Testosterone in Gender Dysphoria

Do women's preferences for masculine voices shift across the ovulatory cycle?

General sexual desire, but not desire for uncommitted sexual relationships, tracks changes in women’s hormonal status

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