title: Olfactory influences on the human menstrual cycle.
abstract: Two groups of women were compared for the timing of the onset of their menstrual cycles. One group was rubbed on the upper lip (directly beneath the nose) with a mixture of alcohol and underarm perspiration collected from a single female donor. The other group was rubbed with plain alcohol. The group which received the perspiration showed a significant shift in the timing of their menstrual cycles which conformed closely with the donor's monthly cycle. This is a preliminary study which supports the hypothesis that the time of menstrual onset may be modified by olfactory cues.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008598:Menstruation; D009812:Odorants; D013542:Sweat / Q000502:physiology*