Early follicular testosterone level predicts preference for masculinity in male faces - but not for women taking hormonal contraception.
It has been shown that women's preference for masculinity in male faces changes across the menstrual cycle. Preference for masculinity is stronger when conception probability is high than when it is low. These findings have been linked to cyclic fluctuations of hormone levels. The purpose of the present study is to further investigate the link between gonadal steroids (i.e. testosterone, estradiol, and progesterone) and masculinity preference in women, while holding the cycle phase constant. Sixty-two female participants were tested in their early follicular cycle phase, when conception probability is low. Participants were shown face pairs and where asked to choose the more attractive face. Face pairs consisted of a masculinized and feminized version of the same face. For naturally cycling women we found a positive relationship between saliva testosterone levels and masculinity preference, but there was no link between any hormones and masculinity preference for women taking hormonal contraception. We conclude that in naturally cycling women early follicular testosterone levels are associated with masculinity preference. However, these hormonal links were not found for women with artificially modified hormonal levels, that is, for women taking hormonal contraception.
Institute of Psychology, University of Bern, Fabrikstrasse 8, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; Center for Cognition, Learning, and Memory, University of Bern, Fabrikstrasse 8, 3012 Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: cora.bobst@psy.unibe.ch.
Cora
C
Bobst
Institute of Psychology, University of Bern, Fabrikstrasse 8, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
Sabine
S
Sauter
Institute of Psychology, University of Bern, Fabrikstrasse 8, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
Andrina
A
Foppa
Institute of Psychology, University of Bern, Fabrikstrasse 8, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; Center for Cognition, Learning, and Memory, University of Bern, Fabrikstrasse 8, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
Janek S
JS
Lobmaier
D000328:Adult; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D057228:Masculinity; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012928:Social Desirability; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol
Face; Gonadal steroids; Hormonal contraception; Hormone; Masculinity; Menstrual cycle; Preference; Testosterone