Pheromonal influences on sociosexual behavior in postmenopausal women.
To determine whether a putative human sex-attractant pheromone increases specific sociosexual behaviors of postmenopausal women, we tested a chemically synthesized formula derived from research with underarm secretions from heterosexually active, fertile women that was recently tested on young women. Participants (n = 44, mean age = 57 years) were postmenopausal women who volunteered for a double-blind placebo-controlled study designed, to test an odorless pheromone, added to your preferred fragrance, to learn if it might increase the romance in your life. During the experimental 6-week period, a significantly greater proportion of participants using the pheromone formula (40.9%) than placebo (13.6%) recorded an increase over their own weekly average baseline frequency of petting, kissing, and affection (p = .02). More pheromone (68.2%) than placebo (40.9%) users experienced an increase in at least one of the four intimate sociosexual behaviors (p = .04). Sexual motivation frequency, as expressed in masturbation, was not increased in pheromone users. These results suggest that the pheromone formulation worn with perfume for a period of 6 weeks has sex-attractant effects for postmenopausal women.
Friebely
Joan
J
Harvard University, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 221 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115, USA. jfriebely@harvard.edu
Rako
Susan
S
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010476:Perfume / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D049049:Pheromones, Human / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017698:Postmenopause; D011788:Quality of Life; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D012919:Social Behavior; D012938:Social Perception; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States
D010476:Perfume; D049049:Pheromones, Human; D012724:Sex Attractants