1 Lecture 5:The Menstrual Cycle Lecture 5:The Menstrual Cycle • The Ovary The Ovary • The Menstrual Cycle The Menstrual Cycle • Follicular phase Follicular phase • Luteal phase Luteal phase • Menstrual cycle and mate Menstrual cycle and mate choice choice • Cycle related psychological Cycle related psychological changes changes • Cycle related Cycle related physiological changes physiological changes Behavioral Biology of Women 2007 The Ovary The Ovary The Ovary The Ovary Function of the Ovary Function of the Ovary • Target Organ: Generates mature germ cells Target Organ: Generates mature germ cells in response to hormonal control signals in response to hormonal control signals • Endocrine Gland: Sends signals of its own Endocrine Gland: Sends signals of its own to uterus, the hypothalamus and pituitary. to uterus, the hypothalamus and pituitary. Ovary with Follicles Ovary with Follicles Each immature egg is called a primary oocyte and is contained in a follicle.
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•• Menstrual cycle and mate Menstrual cycle and mate choicechoice
•• Cycle related psychological Cycle related psychological changeschanges
•• Cycle related Cycle related physiological changesphysiological changes
Behavioral Biology of Women 2007
The OvaryThe Ovary The OvaryThe Ovary
Function of the OvaryFunction of the Ovary
•• Target Organ: Generates mature germ cells Target Organ: Generates mature germ cells in response to hormonal control signalsin response to hormonal control signals
•• Endocrine Gland: Sends signals of its own Endocrine Gland: Sends signals of its own
to uterus, the hypothalamus and pituitary.to uterus, the hypothalamus and pituitary.
Ovary with FolliclesOvary with Follicles
Each
immature
egg is
called a
primary
oocyte and
is
contained
in a
follicle.
22
Follicular DevelopmentFollicular Development Decline in Oocytes as we AgeDecline in Oocytes as we Age
•• Women preferred males with Women preferred males with
more feminized faces. more feminized faces.
BUT…
Preference for Feminized FacesPreference for Feminized Faces
Cycle PhaseCycle Phase
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Japanese Men Caucasian Men
Low Conception RiskHigh Conception Risk
1212
Preference for Feminized FacesPreference for Feminized Faces
RelationshipsRelationships
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
Short Term
Context
Long Term
Context
Low Conception RiskHigh Conception Risk
The Menstrual Cycle &The Menstrual Cycle &
Male Scent Attractiveness Male Scent Attractiveness
•• Women preferred Women preferred
scent of more scent of more
symmetrical men atsymmetrical men at
midcyclemidcycle
Gangestad & Thornhill 1998
•• No difference when at No difference when at
low fertility risklow fertility risk
The Menstrual Cycle &The Menstrual Cycle &
Male Scent AttractivenessMale Scent Attractiveness
WhatWhat’’s happening here?s happening here?
Gangestad & Thornhill 1998
•• Androstenol Androstenol levels?levels?
•• Type of bacteria?Type of bacteria?
•• Fatty acids?Fatty acids?
•• HLA Gene type?HLA Gene type?
Jealousy and Menstrual PhaseJealousy and Menstrual Phase
•• Krug et al. (l996) found that women had Krug et al. (l996) found that women had
stronger physiological responses to stronger physiological responses to
imagining loss of investment from their imagining loss of investment from their
romantic partner when they were in the romantic partner when they were in the
ovulatory ovulatory phase of the menstrual cyclephase of the menstrual cycle
Mood and PMSMood and PMS
•• Many, many studies. Most Many, many studies. Most show that mood is highest midshow that mood is highest mid--cycle, lowest cycle, lowest perimenstruallyperimenstrually..
Percentages of Women who Report PMSPercentages of Women who Report PMS
25%25%5%5%DizzinessDizziness
69%69%34%34%Skin Skin
BlemishesBlemishes
70%70%30%30%AnxietyAnxiety
76%76%43%43%SadnessSadness
77%77%24%24%BackachesBackaches
77%77%36%36%SwellingSwelling
83%83%34%34%Weight GainWeight Gain
84%84%35%35%Breast PainBreast Pain
Premenstrual Premenstrual
Assessment Assessment
FormForm
Menstrual Menstrual
Distress Distress
QuestionnaireQuestionnaire
SymptomSymptom
(from Nelson, 2000)
1313
PMS and reproductive hormonesPMS and reproductive hormones
•• No physiological No physiological
abnormalities have abnormalities have
been consistently been consistently
linked with steroid linked with steroid
hormone hormone
concentrations in concentrations in
women with PMSwomen with PMS
PMS and reproductive hormonesPMS and reproductive hormones
•• No physiological No physiological abnormalities have been abnormalities have been consistently linked with consistently linked with steroid hormone steroid hormone concentrations in women concentrations in women with PMSwith PMS
•• Preventing Preventing luteal luteal phase with phase with mifepristone mifepristone (progesterone (progesterone antagonist) did not prevent antagonist) did not prevent symptoms (Schmidt et al., symptoms (Schmidt et al., 1991)1991)
PMS and reproductive hormonesPMS and reproductive hormones
•• No physiological abnormalities No physiological abnormalities have been consistently linked have been consistently linked with steroid hormone with steroid hormone concentrations in women with concentrations in women with PMSPMS
•• Preventing Preventing luteal luteal phase with phase with mifepristone mifepristone (progesterone (progesterone antagonist) did not prevent antagonist) did not prevent symptoms (Schmidt et al., symptoms (Schmidt et al., 1991)1991)
•• But completely shutting down But completely shutting down the cycle with the cycle with GnRH GnRH antagonist antagonist did (Brown et al., 1993)did (Brown et al., 1993)
Do WesternDo Western Women seem to experience PMS more Women seem to experience PMS more
because have many more menstrual cycles?because have many more menstrual cycles?
•• Age of menarche Age of menarche (17 v. 12)(17 v. 12)
•• Age of first pregnancy Age of first pregnancy (18 v. 26)(18 v. 26)
•• Number of pregnancies Number of pregnancies (6 v. 2)(6 v. 2)
•• Amount of time spent in Amount of time spent in lactational lactational amenorrhea amenorrhea (10 years v. 3 months)(10 years v. 3 months)
•• Number of menstrual cycles experienced by HG Number of menstrual cycles experienced by HG women? women? 1010--2020 (Dennis, 1992)(Dennis, 1992)
•• Number of menstrual cycles experienced by Number of menstrual cycles experienced by Modern Western women not on hormonal Modern Western women not on hormonal contraceptives? contraceptives? 300300
Compare hunterCompare hunter--gathering societies to Modern Western: gathering societies to Modern Western:
CognitionCognition
•• When asked on a questionnaire if they have When asked on a questionnaire if they have
menstruation related cognitive changes menstruation related cognitive changes ––
20% of women say 20% of women say ““yes.yes.””
CognitionCognition
•• When asked on a questionnaire if they have When asked on a questionnaire if they have menstruation related cognitive changes menstruation related cognitive changes ––20% of women say 20% of women say ““yes.yes.””
•• No differences in learning and memory No differences in learning and memory across menstrual cycle in most of the across menstrual cycle in most of the dozens of studies.dozens of studies.
1414
CognitionCognition
•• When asked on a questionnaire if they have When asked on a questionnaire if they have menstruation related cognitive changes menstruation related cognitive changes ––20% of women say 20% of women say ““yes.yes.””
•• No differences in learning and memory No differences in learning and memory across menstrual cycle in most of the across menstrual cycle in most of the dozens of studies. dozens of studies.
•• Academic performance does not seem to be Academic performance does not seem to be significantly affected by menstrual cycle significantly affected by menstrual cycle phase.phase.
Kimura et al. (l988)Kimura et al. (l988)
•• Women performed better with verbal skill Women performed better with verbal skill
(repeating tongue twisters) and muscular (repeating tongue twisters) and muscular
coordination (finger tapping) when estrogen coordination (finger tapping) when estrogen
was high (was high (midluteal midluteal phase).phase).
Kimura et al. (l988)Kimura et al. (l988)
•• Women performed better with verbal skill Women performed better with verbal skill (repeating tongue twisters) and muscular (repeating tongue twisters) and muscular coordination (finger tapping) when estrogen coordination (finger tapping) when estrogen was high (was high (midluteal midluteal phase).phase).
•• Women performed better on a measure of Women performed better on a measure of spatialspatial--perceptual skill (Rod and Frame test) perceptual skill (Rod and Frame test) during menstruation (early follicular)during menstruation (early follicular)
Kimura et al. (l988)Kimura et al. (l988)
•• Women performed better with verbal skill Women performed better with verbal skill (repeating tongue twisters) and muscular (repeating tongue twisters) and muscular coordination (finger tapping) when estrogen was coordination (finger tapping) when estrogen was high (high (midluteal midluteal phase).phase).
•• Women performed better on a measure of spatialWomen performed better on a measure of spatial--perceptual skill (Rod and Frame test) during perceptual skill (Rod and Frame test) during menstruation (early follicular)menstruation (early follicular)
•• Postmenopausal women on estrogen replacement Postmenopausal women on estrogen replacement performed better at verbal and motor function than performed better at verbal and motor function than other post menopausal women not on Hormonal other post menopausal women not on Hormonal Replacement TherapyReplacement Therapy
Spatial Ability & Cycle Phase
-0.2
-0.1
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
Menstrual Midluteal
Z-Score Units
Math Speed/Accuracy&
Cycle Phase
-0.1
0
0.1
0.2
Females Males
Pre-Ovulatory
Mid-Luteal
Z-Score Units
1515
Cycle related physiological changesCycle related physiological changes
•• Body temperatureBody temperature
•• Food intake and carbohydrate metabolismFood intake and carbohydrate metabolism
•• WeightWeight
•• Alcohol metabolismAlcohol metabolism
•• SensitivitySensitivity
•• SpeechSpeech
•• Clinical ailmentsClinical ailments
Body TemperatureBody Temperature
•• Basal body temperature (temp when Basal body temperature (temp when
someone wakes up) is low during follicular someone wakes up) is low during follicular
phase, dips at ovulation and then rises phase, dips at ovulation and then rises
noticeably just after ovulation (~0.4 noticeably just after ovulation (~0.4
degrees) and then continues to rise for the degrees) and then continues to rise for the
rest of the cycle.rest of the cycle.
Body TemperatureBody Temperature
•• Basal body temperature (temp when someone wakes Basal body temperature (temp when someone wakes
up) is low during follicular phase, dips at ovulation up) is low during follicular phase, dips at ovulation
and then rises noticeably just after ovulation (~0.4 and then rises noticeably just after ovulation (~0.4
degrees) and then continues to rise for the rest of the degrees) and then continues to rise for the rest of the
cycle.cycle.
•• Temperature shift is used in research and natural Temperature shift is used in research and natural
family planning to detect ovulationfamily planning to detect ovulation
Basal Body TemperatureBasal Body Temperature
Food Intake and Carbohydrate Food Intake and Carbohydrate
MetabolismMetabolism
•• Food intake (and Food intake (and
basal metabolic basal metabolic
rate) are rate) are
consistently higher consistently higher
during during luteal luteal phase.phase.
Food Intake and Carbohydrate Food Intake and Carbohydrate
MetabolismMetabolism
•• Food intake (and basal Food intake (and basal
metabolic rate) are consistently metabolic rate) are consistently
higher during higher during luteal luteal phase.phase.
•• Increase in food intake is Increase in food intake is
primarily due to increased primarily due to increased
Food Intake and Carbohydrate Food Intake and Carbohydrate
MetabolismMetabolism
•• Food intake (and basal metabolic rate) Food intake (and basal metabolic rate) are consistently higher during are consistently higher during luteal luteal phase.phase.
•• Increase in food intake is primarily Increase in food intake is primarily due to increased carbohydrate due to increased carbohydrate consumption.consumption.
•• Women with PMS show a more Women with PMS show a more significant increase in appetite and significant increase in appetite and carbohydrate craving than women carbohydrate craving than women without PMS.without PMS.
WeightWeight
•• Approximately one third of women report a Approximately one third of women report a
change in body weight (1change in body weight (1--5 pounds) with 5 pounds) with
menstrual phase, usually menstrual phase, usually premenstrually premenstrually or or
perimenstrually perimenstrually depending on study. depending on study.
WeightWeight
•• Approximately one third of women report a Approximately one third of women report a
change in body weight (1change in body weight (1--5 pounds) with 5 pounds) with
menstrual phase, usually menstrual phase, usually premenstrually premenstrually or or
perimenstrually perimenstrually depending on study. depending on study.
•• When estrogens are given experimentally to When estrogens are given experimentally to
both rats and humans, there are increases in both rats and humans, there are increases in
sodium and chloride which cause fluid sodium and chloride which cause fluid
retention.retention.
WeightWeight•• Approximately one third of women Approximately one third of women report a change in body weight (1report a change in body weight (1--5 5 pounds) with menstrual phase, usually pounds) with menstrual phase, usually premenstrually premenstrually or or perimenstrually perimenstrually depending on study. depending on study.
•• When estrogens are given When estrogens are given experimentally to both rats and experimentally to both rats and humans, there are increases in sodium humans, there are increases in sodium and chloride which cause fluid and chloride which cause fluid retention.retention.
•• Fluid retention and increased food Fluid retention and increased food consumption may together account for consumption may together account for cycle related weight fluctuations.cycle related weight fluctuations.
Alcohol MetabolismAlcohol Metabolism
•• In study where In study where men and women men and women were given the were given the same amount of same amount of alcohol (not alcohol (not controlling for controlling for body weight), body weight), women got women got more more intoxicated and intoxicated and had a higher had a higher blood alcohol blood alcohol level than men. level than men.
Alcohol MetabolismAlcohol Metabolism
•• Unclear why Unclear why more affected more affected in latein late luteal luteal phase.phase.
1717
SensesSenses
•• Almost all of the Almost all of the
senses (visual, senses (visual,
auditory, tactile, and auditory, tactile, and
especially olfactory) especially olfactory)
appear to be more appear to be more
acute during the acute during the
follicular phase of follicular phase of
the menstrual cycle.the menstrual cycle.
SensesSenses
•• Almost all of the senses Almost all of the senses (visual, auditory, tactile, (visual, auditory, tactile, and especially olfactory) and especially olfactory) appear to be more acute appear to be more acute during the follicular during the follicular phase of the menstrual phase of the menstrual cycle.cycle.
•• Conflicting studies Conflicting studies about sensitivity to pain, about sensitivity to pain, but many show an but many show an increase sensitivity to increase sensitivity to pain at pain at midcyclemidcycle..
SensesSenses
•• Almost all of the senses (visual, auditory, tactile, Almost all of the senses (visual, auditory, tactile,
and especially olfactory) appear to be more acute and especially olfactory) appear to be more acute
during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle.during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle.
•• Conflicting studies about sensitivity to pain, but Conflicting studies about sensitivity to pain, but
many show an increase sensitivity to pain at many show an increase sensitivity to pain at
midcyclemidcycle. .
•• Some researchers speculate that heightened Some researchers speculate that heightened
sensitivity during midsensitivity during mid--cycle may be useful for cycle may be useful for
increasing the probability of coitusincreasing the probability of coitus
SpeechSpeech
•• When asked to give a 3 When asked to give a 3
minute speech both regular minute speech both regular
stutters and non stutters stutters and non stutters
were more were more disfluent disfluent (more (more
repetition, revision, repetition, revision,
disrhythmic disrhythmic phonation, phonation,
interjection and tense interjection and tense
pauses) pauses) premenstrually premenstrually than than
at at midcyclemidcycle. .
Clinical AilmentsClinical Ailments
•• Epilepsy: 58% of female epileptics reported Epilepsy: 58% of female epileptics reported increased seizures increased seizures premenstrually premenstrually compared compared to only 9% during menstruation.to only 9% during menstruation.
Clinical AilmentsClinical Ailments
•• Epilepsy (58% of female Epilepsy (58% of female
epileptics reported epileptics reported
increased seizures increased seizures
premenstrually premenstrually compared compared
to only 9% during to only 9% during
menstruation.menstruation.
•• Allergies and asthma Allergies and asthma ––
tend to worsen tend to worsen
premenstruallypremenstrually..
1818
Clinical AilmentsClinical Ailments
•• Epilepsy (58% of female epileptics reported Epilepsy (58% of female epileptics reported increased seizures increased seizures premenstrually premenstrually compared to compared to only 9% during menstruation.only 9% during menstruation.
•• Allergies and asthma Allergies and asthma –– tend to worsen tend to worsen premenstruallypremenstrually. .
•• Herpes and eczema outbreaks more common Herpes and eczema outbreaks more common premenstruallypremenstrually
Clinical AilmentsClinical Ailments
•• Epilepsy (58% of female epileptics Epilepsy (58% of female epileptics reported increased seizures reported increased seizures premenstrually premenstrually compared to only 9% compared to only 9% during menstruation.during menstruation.
•• Allergies and asthma Allergies and asthma –– tend to worsen tend to worsen premenstruallypremenstrually. .
•• Herpes and eczema outbreaks more Herpes and eczema outbreaks more common common premenstruallypremenstrually
•• Migraine headaches more common Migraine headaches more common near ovulation and shortly thereafter near ovulation and shortly thereafter ((perimenstruallyperimenstrually))
Clinical AilmentsClinical Ailments
•• Epilepsy (58% of female epileptics reported Epilepsy (58% of female epileptics reported increased seizures increased seizures premenstrually premenstrually compared to compared to only 9% during menstruation.only 9% during menstruation.
•• Allergies and asthma Allergies and asthma –– tend to worsen tend to worsen premenstruallypremenstrually. .
•• Herpes and eczema outbreaks more common Herpes and eczema outbreaks more common premenstruallypremenstrually
•• Migraine headaches more common near ovulation Migraine headaches more common near ovulation and shortly thereafter (and shortly thereafter (perimenstruallyperimenstrually))
•• Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are lowest when Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are lowest when ovarian steroids are low (early follicular phase).ovarian steroids are low (early follicular phase).