title: Hormonal predictors of women's extra-pair vs. in-pair sexual attraction in natural cycles: Implications for extended sexuality.
abstract: In naturally cycling women, Roney and Simmons (2013) examined hormonal correlates of their desire for sexual contact. Estradiol was positively associated, and progesterone negatively associated, with self-reported desire. The current study extended these findings by examining, within a sample of 33 naturally cycling women involved in romantic relationships, hormonal correlates of sexual attraction to or interests in specific targets: women's own primary partner or men other than women's primary partner. Women's sexual interests and hormone (estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone) levels were assessed at two different time points. Whereas estradiol levels were associated with relatively greater extra-pair sexual interests than in-pair sexual interests, progesterone levels were associated with relatively greater in-pair sexual interests. Both hormones specifically predicted in-pair sexual desire, estradiol negatively and progesterone positively. These findings have implications for understanding the function of women's extended sexuality - their sexual proceptivity and receptivity outside the fertile phase, especially during the luteal phase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
authors.forename: Nicholas M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Grebe
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Emery Thompson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA. Electronic address: sgangest@unm.edu.
authors.forename: Steven W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Gangestad
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007989:Libido / Q000502:physiology*; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol
keywords: Estradiol; Menstrual cycle; Progesterone; Sexual desire; Testosterone