title: Is 3alpha-androstenol pheromone related to menstrual synchrony?
abstract: METHODS
  The ovarian cycles of females living and interacting together may synchronise due to pheromones released from axillary secretary glands, the highest concentration of which is produced in the mid-follicular phase, prior to ovulation. The objective of this study was to find evidence for menstrual synchrony in a group of female students living together and to obtain a correlation between the ability to smell the putative pheromone, 5alpha-androst-16-en-3alpha-ol (3alpha-androstenol), found in apocrine secretions and menstrual synchrony. This cross-sectional study involved 88 students who completed a standard questionnaire and whose sense of smell was measured using ten varying thresholds. The menstrual history, friendship scale and menstrual hygiene score was determined for the participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 59.1% of the subjects studied were found to have menstrual synchrony. There was no significant association between menstrual synchrony and smelling threshold. However, a significant correlation was found between menstrual synchrony and personal hygiene score (p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The phenomenon of menstrual synchrony may be related to various factors. The results failed to demonstrate any significant difference between synchronised and non-synchronised subjects in detecting the steroid by sense of smell. However, the odours associated with menstrual blood or vaginal discharge might have an affect on menstrual synchrony.
authors.affiliation: Royal College of Medicine, University of Kuala Lumpur, Perak, Malaysia. Jahanfar2000@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Shayesteh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jahanfar
authors.forename: Che Haslinawati Che
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Awang
authors.forename: Raihan Abd
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: Rinni Damayanti
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Samsuddin
authors.forename: Chin Pui
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: See
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000737:Androstenols; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D010675:Pheromones
chemical_list: D000737:Androstenols; D010675:Pheromones