Male Perspiration Brightens Women's Moods - Study

Reuters ^ | 3/14/03

[LibWhacker]

Fri March 14, 2003 01:14 PM ET PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Sweating it out over a big date this weekend? If you're a guy, that could be just the ticket, according to a human biology study released on Friday. Biologists at the University of Pennsylvania said they found male perspiration had a surprisingly beneficial effect on women's moods. It helps reduce stress, induces relaxation and even affects the menstrual cycle.

"This suggests there may be much more going on in social settings like singles' bars than meets the eye," said Charles Wysocki, an adjunct professor of animal biology at Penn's School of Veterinary Medicine.

In a study to be published in the journal Biology of Reproduction, researchers collected samples from the underarms of men who refrained from using deodorant for four weeks. The extracts were then blended and applied to the upper lips of 18 women, aged 25 to 45.

The women rated their moods on a fixed scale for a period of six hours. The findings suggested something in the perspiration brightened their moods and helped them feel less tense. Blood analyzes also showed a rise in levels of the reproductive luteinizing hormone that typically surge before ovulation.

Wysocki, a study co-author, said the research could point to a "chemical communication" subtext between the sexes that enables men and women to coordinate their reproductive efforts subliminally.

There was no sign women were sexually aroused by male perspiration. In fact, the women never suspected they had men's sweat under their noses and believed they were helping to test alcohol, perfume or lemon floor wax.

"The study was done in quite a sterile environment. It's not strange that they were not thinking sexual thoughts," said Wysocki. "In a more sensual setting, exposure to these odors might facilitate the emergence of sexual mood or feelings."

Funded by the National Institutes of Health, researchers said the study could lead to new fertility therapies and treatments for premenstrual syndrome if the active agent in male perspiration could be isolated.

[Moonmad27]

Interesting title to this thread. A sweaty Mel Gibson would definitely brighten my mood anytime.

[FITZ]

cleared out the garage, carried out the trash, and mowed the grass.

How do couch potatoes smell?

[Desdemona]

Speak for yourself, lady. Purring lawnmowers wake some of us up in the morning.

Guys, take a shower. Natural, but not eye-watering, scents are okay, but soap has it's good points.

[hole_n_one]

If the above makes anybody hot, it's time to put a shotgun in your mouth.

[A_perfect_lady]

Well, when I say "morning," I do mean a civilized hour.

Not before 10:00am, say.

[Interesting Times]

You owe me 1/3 of a beer and a new keyboard.

[Capriole]

Well, duh. Is this supposed to be a surprise? Back when I was doing neuropharm/neurophysiology it was pretty much a given among the physical anthro workers that the reason we had evolved armpit hair was to trap smell so that we could recognize and react to one another. If I recall correctly somebody had also isolated a substance called alpha-androstenol from the urine, nipples, and armpits of men, and female vomeronasal organs were supposed to respond to it, though darned if I can find the citation for that. I always just assumed that that's why we like to sniff around in men's chest hair.

I man who is basically clean but hasn't had a bath in the past several hours, and is healthy, smells great. It's a guy's smell we bond to more than his appearance.

[Desdemona]

A man who is basically clean but hasn't had a bath in the past several hours, and is healthy, smells great.

Very true. It's the ripeness that doesn't appeal.

[Ronin]

Relaxation????

That's not the reaction I associate with (fresh) female aromas.

(donning anti-flame suit)

[farmfriend]

they found male perspiration had a surprisingly beneficial effect on women's moods.

It all depends on what causes the perspiration. I can think of a couple of ways it would be beneficial to my moods.

[glorgau]

Women crave my essence. I deny it to them.

[marsh2]

Maybe there is something to the ancient practice of athletes/gladiators oiling themeselves, then scraping off the oil and sweat with a strigile. The oil was then sold to wealthy ladies.

[ETERNAL WARMING]

If I walk in the house sweaty, my wife simply points toward the bathroom

I like that woman! Body odor sure doesn't turn me on. Yuck!

[Moonmad27]

A prime part of a bath for all the well-to-do in ancient Rome was pouring olive oil on and scraping it off with a strigil. Knowing that the gladiators were the movie stars of their day, I can imagine the ladies getting that used oil (although it's a yucky idea). Apparently this theory about male sweat was already proven two thousand years ago! (I always wondered how that helped get people clean - then realized I had just bought a fancy soap, the main ingredient of which is olive oil.)

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

then why after my run does my wife refuse to touch me until I have showered

[Senator Goldwater]

"Relaxation???? That's not the reaction I associate with (fresh) female aromas."

Me, either. But I am perfectly willing to be on their test panel.

[ErnBatavia]

But men's flatulence takes them right down again.

That's a "pride thing"...

[muggs]

It helps reduce stress, induces relaxation and even affects the menstrual cycle.

Must be why I like going to the gym.

[muggs]

I can't post a picture, but check this out. These ladies must be some of the happiest, relaxed women around.

http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh/yourturn/yt15.htm