No evidence for menstrual synchrony in lesbian couples.
Menstrual synchrony was investigated in a sample of 29 cohabiting lesbian couples, ranging in age from 22 to 48 years. One or both partners kept prospective daily records of variables including menses onset dates, intimate contact, and sexual activity. All women reported daily intimate interaction with their partners; none reported intimate interaction with men. Despite these potentially optimal conditions for the manifestation of synchrony, the differences between dyad members in menses onset dates were distributed randomly, and there was no evidence of convergence. In fact, most dyads exhibited divergence of onset dates. Reasons for lack of synchrony in this sample are discussed; one conclusion is that there is no solid evidence that menstrual synchrony is a stable attribute of past or contemporary human populations.
Trevathan
W R
WR
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces 88003.
Burleson
M H
MH
Gregory
W L
WL
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006716:Homosexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012931:Social Environment