Men perceive their female partners, and themselves, as more attractive around ovulation

• Published in: Biological psychology Vol. 94; no. 3; pp. 513 - 516
• Main Authors: Cobey, Kelly D., Buunk, Abraham P., Pollet, Thomas V., Klipping, Christine, Roberts, S. Craig
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.12.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Attraction; Attractiveness; Behavioral psychophysiology; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Fertility; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Heterosexuality - psychology; Hormonal contraception; Humans; Male; Oral contraception; Ovulation - psychology; Perception; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Romantic relationships; Self Concept; Sexual Behavior - psychology; Sexual Partners - psychology; Within-subjects; Oral contraception; Hormonal contraception; Attractiveness; Romantic relationships; Fertility; Within-subjects; Human; Male; Contraception; Ovulation; Social interaction; Romantic love; Female; Interpersonal relation
• ISSN: 0301-0511; 1873-6246; 1873-6246
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2013.09.011

•Men perceive their partner as more attractive near to ovulation.•Men perceive themselves as more attractive when their partner is near to ovulation.•Female self-perception is not affected by cycle phase or hormonal contraceptive use. The purpose of this study was to test whether men perceive changes in their female partner's attractiveness as a function of her fertility status. We further tested how both male and female self-perception varies in relation to female fertility status. This study benefits from the use of transvaginal ultrasonography to detect fertility during the regular cycle and the use of a within-subjects design in which romantic couples were followed both across the cycle and during hormonal contraceptive use. We find that men rated their female partner as more attractive near to ovulation (when fertile) as compared to during the luteal cycle phase or during hormonal contraceptive use. Moreover, our results point to a presently unrecognized negative consequence of hormonal contraceptive use on male self-perception, with men rating themselves lower in attractiveness when their partner was using hormonal contraceptives than when she was regularly cycling. In contrast, there was no difference across measures in female self-reported attractiveness. Results are discussed in terms of their potential impact on within-couple social dynamics.