Menstrual Cycle woo

[dakotajudo]

I'd heard of menstrual cycle synchrony back when I took undergrad physiology, and maybe even repeated it, back when I taught physiology labs. But I've never really considered it critically (so shut up, TTLer, this was a good thread for me).

Anyway, I did a pubmed, and the first citation suggest that synchrony may depend on hygiene - see http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ffp/jfp/2007/00000033/00000002/art00015 .

Well, if it is pheromonal, that makes sense. There seem to be pheromones in sweat that active regions fo the hypothalamus.

As for an evolutionary basis - maybe there isn't one - maybe it's simply a side effect of the higher levels of hormones needed to trigger some of the physiological processes, or bi-products of their breakdown.

 

[fuelair]

And maybe a sock-puppet.

I've seen this style plus PMs before. Must go check back some old threads when I have time, because I'll be surprised if this is his first visit here.

**You are able to report PMs, you know, pmckean, and that's a fairly abusive kind of thing to PM. Especially from a "real skeptic" who posted Wiki links to end a discussion!

Not to mention that the Wiki links did not address the OP point/question - just general info on major topic.

 

[Chris Haynes]

Also, not every woman has the exact cycle. My natural cycle was actually about 6 weeks, and during my fairly few years on birth control pills it turned into 8 weeks (and then later during my 40s it went to 10 weeks, then 12 weeks, then 6 months... and I thought I was post-menopausal except a few months ago I had a cycle after 3 years!). For some women it can be as short as 3 weeks, or 5.5 weeks.

So if a set of women with certain various different cycle frequencies live together, the times that the cycles coincide would be more memorable, than other times. The extraordinary events stick in your head more than the mundane events.

 

[articulett]

My 2 sisters and I synched... my college dorm mates synched and me and a female roommate synched. In fact, I realized she was pregnant probably at around the same time she did-- excess tampons in the box for me.

I've also heard that women in relationships (with men) are more regular...

My experience fits the studies I've read on both counts... but maybe I'm suggestible... or just a sample of one.

 

[The Atheist]

As far as I know, girls do not start in rhythm with their mothers, sisters, or other female household members.

That could well be used as proof of god [being male].

 

[casebro]

Another anecdote: My sister was well into menopause, thought she was all done. When her daughter moved back in for several months. She started regular cycles again.

I'd pick pheromones as the signaling system. The change in smell is obvious. Even guys know that women smell different at that time of the month. It's the original use of the word "funky".

 

[king catfish]

Nevermind. Better said by others before me.

 

[Chris Haynes]

My 2 sisters and I synched... ....

I never synched with my sisters. But then, again... I seldom synch with them on anything. At our last family wedding, I was forced by them (and my hubby) into "sister time". I watched them put on make up and nail polish, while avoiding their attempts to apply the stuff to me.

 

[articulett]

I never synched with my sisters. But then, again... I seldom synch with them on anything. At our last family wedding, I was forced by them (and my hubby) into "sister time". I watched them put on make up and nail polish, while avoiding their attempts to apply the stuff to me.

Me neither... I tell myself they synched with me-- I'm alpha One sister is an evangelical Christian and another is a New Age yoga nut. My brother is a conservative Catholic. I guess I got all the brains as well as pheromone dominance.

 

[Juliette]

I never synched with my sisters. But then, again... I seldom synch with them on anything.

It's interesting, it seems that I continue to hear about female siblings, seldom synching on anything. Though I have never synched with my sister in any other way, we had identical menstral cycles.

Though I always questioned why, most anecdotal experiences - work, school, roomates - have seemed for the most part in synch. Not as closely as with my sister, but still synched within a day or two.

Again, questioning why, nothing has ever seemed definitive. What I heard mostly from other women was connected to the (yawn) lunar cycle. So far, the relationship with pheromones makes the most sense to me.

It's always interesting when statistics clearly say one thing, such as in the studies Katana refered to showing no synchronx, yet lifetime anecdotes show something so different. It is probably that my anecdotes have been based on purely selective memory.

Julia

 

[RSLancastr]

I was discussing the female period with my partner (as you do), and she mentioned that her menstrual cycle tended to synchronise with other women she would spend long periods of time with.

Oh, that's bush-league (so to speak) menstrual woo.

Do some Googling on "wicca" and "menses," and you'll see some high-grade woo.

 

[mumchup]

Oh, that's bush-league (so to speak) menstrual woo.

Do some Googling on "wicca" and "menses," and you'll see some high-grade woo.

Something tells me that if I follow your google advice, I'll be very sorry