Skip to main content
Log in

Menstrual synchrony: Fact or artifact?

  • Published:
Human Nature Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Although more than thirty years of intensive investigation have passed since McClintock first published results on menstrual synchrony, there is still no conclusive evidence for the existence of this phenomenon. Indeed, a growing body of nullresult studies, critiques of menstrual synchrony studies, and the lack of convincing evolutionary explanations bring into question the existence of this phenomenon. This paper presents results of a study conducted over five consecutive months in Polish student dormitories. In 18 pairs and 21 triples of college-age women, menstrual synchrony was not found. Social interactions, considered the most important factor mediating the effect of menstrual synchrony, was unrelated to any difference in menstrual cycle onsets. Initial menstrual onset difference was influenced by woman’s body mass and menstrual cycle irregularity. These results provide further evidence that women do not synchronize their menstrual cycles.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arden, M. A., and L. Dye 1998 The Assessment of Menstrual Synchrony: Comment on Weller and Weller (1997). Journal of Comparative Psychology 112:323–324.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burley, N. 1979 The Evolution of Concealed Ovulation. American Naturalist 114:835–858.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Engstrom J. L., S. A. Paterson, A. Doherty, A. Trabulsi, and K. L. Speer 2003 Accuracy of Self-Reported Height and Weight in Women: An Integrative Review of the Literature. Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health 48:338–345

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frisch, R. E. 1984 Body Fat, Puberty and Fertility. Biological Reviews 59:161–188.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Graham, C. A., and W. C. McGrew 1980 Menstrual Synchrony in Female Undergraduates Living on a Coeducational Campus. Psychoneuroendocrinology 5:245–252.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldman, C. A., and H. G. Schneider 1987 Menstrual Synchrony. Social and Personality Factors. Journal of Social Behavior and Personality 2:243–250.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harlow S. D., and S. A. Ephross 1995 Epidemiology of Menstruation and Its Relevance to Women’s Health. Epidemiologic Reviews 17:265–285.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jarett, L. R. 1984 Psychosocial and Biological Influences on Menstruation: Synchrony, Cycle Length and Regularity. Psychoneuroendocrinology 9:21–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kiltie, R. A. 1982 On the Significance of Menstrual Synchrony in Closely Associated Women. The Naturalist 119:414–419.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knowlton, N. 1979 Reproductive Synchrony, Parental Investment, and the Evolutionary Dynamics of Sexual Selection. Animal Behavior 27:1022–1033.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Little, B. B., D. S. Guzick, R. M. Malina, M. D. Rocha Ferreira 1989 Environmental Influences Cause Menstrual Synchrony, Not Pheromones. American Journal of Human Biology 1:53–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matteo, S. 1987 The Effect of Job Stress and Job Interdependency on Menstrual Cycle Length, Regularity and Synchrony. Psychoneuroendocrinology 12:467–476.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McClintock, M. 1971 Menstrual Synchrony and Suppression. Nature 229:244–245.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Potischman, N., C. A. Swanson, P. Siiteri, and R. N. Hoover 1996 Reversal Relation between Body Mass and Endogenous Estrogen Concentrations with Menopausal Status. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 88:756–758.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quadagno, D. M., H. E. Shubeita, J. Deck, and D. Francoeur 1981 Influence of Male Social Contacts, Exercise, and All-Female Living Conditions on the Menstrual Cycle. Psychoneuroendocrinology 3:239–244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schank, J. C. 2000 Menstrual-Cycle Variability and Measurement: Further Cause for Doubt. Psychoneuroendocrinology 25:837–847.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 2004 Avoiding Synchrony as the Strategy of Female Mate Choice. Nonlinear Dynamics, Psychology and Life Sciences 8:147–176.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stern, K., and M. McClintock 1998 Regulation of Ovulation by Human Pheromones. Nature 392:177–179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strassmann, B. I. 1997 The Biology of Menstruation in Homo sapiens: Total Lifetime Menses, Fecundity, and Nonsynchrony in a Natural-Fertility Population. Current Anthropology 38:123–129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 1999 Menstrual Synchrony: Cause for Doubt. Human Reproduction 14:579–580.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Treloar, A. E., R. E. Boynton, G. B. Borghild, and B. W. Brown 1967 Variations in the Human Menstrual Cycle through Reproductive Life. International Journal of Fertility 12:77–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trevathan, W. R., M. H. Burleson, and W. L. Gregory 1993 No Evidence for Menstrual Synchrony in Lesbian Couples. Psychoneuroendocrinology 18:425–435.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turke, P. W. 1984 Effects of Ovulatory Concealment and Synchrony on Protohominid Mating Systems and Parental Roles. Ethology & Sociobiology 5:33–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weller, A., and L. Weller 1992 Menstrual Synchrony in Female Couples. Psychoneuroendocrinology 17:171–177.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 1993a Human Menstrual Synchrony: A Critical Assessment. Neuroscience and Biobehaviroal Reviews 17:427–439.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 1993b Menstrual Synchrony between Mothers and Daughters and between Roommates. Physiology and Behavior 53:943–949

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 1995a The Impact of Social Interaction Factors on Menstrual Synchrony in the Workplace. Psychoneuroendocrinology 20:21–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 1995b Examination of Menstrual Synchrony among Women Basketball Players. Psychoneuroendocrinology 20:613–622.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 1997 Menstrual Variability and the Measurement of Menstrual Synchrony. Psychoneuroendocrinology 22:115–128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 1998 Prolonged and Very Intensive Contact May Not Be Conducive to Menstrual Synchrony. Psychoneuroendocrinology 23:19–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weller, L., A. Weller, and O. Avinir 1995 Menstrual Synchrony: Only in Roommates Who Are Close Friends? Physiology & Behavior 58:883–889.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, H. C. 1992 A Critical Review of Menstrual Synchrony Research. Psychoneuroendocrinology 17:565–591.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, H. C., S. H. Kiefhaber, and V. Gravel 1991 Two Studies of Menstrual Synchrony: Negative Results. Psychoneuroendocrinology 16:353–359.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, Z., and J. C. Schank 2006 Women Do Not Synchronize Their Menstrual Cycles. Human Nature 17:433–447.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ziomkiewicz, A. 2005 Body Size, Energetic Status and Estradiol Levels in Reproductive Age Women. Is It Good to Be Medium? Paper presented at the 10th Congress of the European Society for Evolutionary Biology, 15–20 August, Krakow.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anna Ziomkiewicz.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ziomkiewicz, A. Menstrual synchrony: Fact or artifact?. Hum Nat 17, 419–432 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12110-006-1004-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12110-006-1004-0

Key words

Navigation