Ultrasonic assessment of variations in thickness of subcutaneous fat during the normal menstrual cycle

J of Medical Primatology

2006

Swelling volume changed significantly over the menstrual cycle. All other morphometric parameters showed variation without statistical significance. Skin folds were thickest during the luteal phase. Bony diameters displayed similar but less distinctive changes. Testosterone correlated positively with diameter sites, inversely with subcutaneous fat. No relationships with either estradiol or progesterone were found. We assume that subcutaneous fat and morphometric bone parameters exhibit cycle-dependent changes that may be caused by changes in steroid secretion.

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 66%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphometric and hormonal changes during the Chimpanzee menstrual cycle

Machatschke

Dittami

J of Medical Primatology

2006

“…Possibly the most obvious changes occuu in subcutaneous fat uegions of the thighs and abdomen (Peuin et al, 1999). In this aueas up to 4 % incuease of fat happens duuing menstuuation and fat is lowest duuing the fiust half (folliculau stage) of the cycle.…”

Section: Women Advertising During Different Cycle Phasesmentioning

confidence: 95%

Sexual attractiveness: a comparative approach of morphological, behavioral neurophysiological signaling in women and nonhuman primate females

Windhager

Schaschl

et al. 2017

Preprint

This comprehensive review focuses on comparative data in nonhuman primates and humans in relation to signaling secondary sex characteristics (SSC), sexual behavior, and neurophysiology of sexuality during the female cycle. Obviously, sexual activities of primates are not limited to specific cycle phases. In higher evolved primate species no distinction can be drawn between sexual interactions as a prerequisite for reproduction or as a pleasurable tool. However, cyclic depended changes of body morphology and behavior, such as feeding, risk taking, mood changes, are documented for both groups.Neurophysiologically, homologous brain areas, sex steroids and receptor compartments are involved in mediating sexual and pleasure during all cycle stages. The interaction between the subcortical reward system and the social brain network and its projection to the prefrontal cortex are of importance. The advertising of SSC indicate analogous strategies between human one male social units and multifemale-multimale groups in nonhuman primates. Women do advertise SSC permanently after the onset of puberty. In contrast, some nonhuman primate species express attractive signals during specific cycle stages and prolong them beyond fertile periods. The physiological and morphological nature of primate SSC and their flexibility of expression in relation to their information content for males will be discussed during different cycle periods for both groups. Because

“…Some of the most obvious changes occur in the subcutaneous fat regions of the thighs and abdomen (Perin et al 1999). In these areas, fat increases up to 4% during menstruation, and the fat content is lowest during the first half (follicular stage) of the cycle.…”

Section: Women's Advertising During Different Cycle Phasesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual Attractiveness: a Comparative Approach to Morphological, Behavioral and Neurophysiological Aspects of Sexual Signaling in Women and Nonhuman Primate Females

Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology

Windhager

Schaschl

et al. 2019

Objective and Methods This review focuses on comparative data in nonhuman primates and humans in relation to signaling secondary sex characteristics (SSC), sexual behavior, and neurophysiology of sexuality during the female cycle. Results In monkeys and apes no clear distinction can be drawn between sex as a reproductive, social, or a pleasurable activity. Although female sexual behavior is not limited to a specific phase of the menstrual cycle, changes in body morphology and in behavior and psychology (for example, in feeding, risk taking, and mood) can occur across the cycle. In human and nonhuman primates, homologous biological mechanisms including specific areas of the brain, sex steroids, and receptors are involved in regulating female sexuality. Important aspects of this regulation include the interaction between the subcortical reward system and the social brain network and its projection to the prefrontal cortex. In humans, females advertise SSC permanently after the onset of puberty, but without significant changes across the cycle, whereas in other primate species, female sexual signaling can vary significantly across cycle stages and in fertile and non-fertile phases of the life cycle. Conclusion A great deal is now known about the regulation of female sexuality in primates and the use of sexual signals in terms of their variable expression and their information content for males. Human research has also elucidated the cultural mechanisms through which women communicate about their sexuality, including clothes and make-up. A full understanding of female sexuality in humans, therefore, requires knowledge of culture-biology interactions.