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Related Concept Videos

Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle01:22

Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle

The ovarian cycle regulates endometrial changes throughout a single menstrual cycle via the coordinated action of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and gonadotrophins.
At puberty, GnRH begins a pulsatile release pattern, which triggers the anterior pituitary gland to secrete follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). The frequency and amplitude of GnRH pulses vary across the menstrual cycle, with faster pulses favoring LH release and slower pulses favoring FSH release.
Hormonal Control of the Ovarian Cycle01:30

Hormonal Control of the Ovarian Cycle

The ovarian cycle is meticulously regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. This cycle orchestrates the release of a mature oocyte, essential for reproduction.
Before puberty, the hypothalamus releases GnRH in a low frequency, low amplitude pulsatile manner. This along with the immature hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis activity, results in low estrogen levels and the absence of a fully functional ovarian cycle.  At puberty, GnRH secretion increases in both frequency and...
The Menstrual Cycle01:19

The Menstrual Cycle

The menstrual cycle is a recurrent sequence of changes in the uterine endometrium, specifically its functional layer, the stratum functionalis. This cycle prepares the uterus for potential pregnancy. This cycle typically spans 21–35 days, averaging 28 days, and aligns with the ovarian cycle, regulated by fluctuating levels of ovarian hormones, primarily estrogen and progesterone.
The menstrual phase occurs from days 1 to 5 and involves the shedding of the stratum functionalis, as a uterine...
Menses Phase01:18

Menses Phase

The uterine cycle begins with the menstrual phase, which is considered day one of the cycle and typically lasts about five days. This phase is characterized by the degeneration and shedding of the stratum functionalis, the functional layer of the endometrium.
When fertilization does not occur, the corpus luteum deteriorates, causing a significant drop in the levels of estrogen and progesterone in the body. This hormonal decrease triggers the release of prostaglandins, which cause the uterine...
Secretory Phase01:19

Secretory Phase

The secretory phase of the menstrual cycle, spanning from day 14 to 28 in a typical 28-day cycle, is a period of significant physiological changes in the female reproductive system. This phase commences immediately after ovulation and is characterized by the preparation of the endometrium for potential embryo implantation.
Following ovulation, the corpus luteum, a temporary endocrine structure, produces progesterone and estrogens. These hormones stimulate the growth and coiling of endometrial...
Menopause01:28

Menopause

Menopause, a natural biological process marking the end of a woman's fertility, typically occurs between the fifth and sixth decade of life. This phase is characterized by the exhaustion of the ovarian follicle pool, leading to less responsive ovaries despite the high levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH). The consequential decrease in estrogen production results in symptoms like hot flashes, heavy sweating, headaches, hair loss, muscle pains, vaginal...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Isolation of Human Endometrial Stromal Cells for In Vitro Decidualization
14:55

Isolation of Human Endometrial Stromal Cells for In Vitro Decidualization

Published on: September 1, 2018

Automatic female dehumanization across the menstrual cycle.

Valentina Piccoli1, Carlo Fantoni1, Francesco Foroni2,3

  • 1Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Italy.

The British Journal of Social Psychology
|December 2, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Hormonal shifts during the menstrual cycle can automatically dehumanize women, particularly when conception likelihood is high. This effect appears linked to mate-attraction goals, influencing perceptions of other women but not men.

Keywords:
attractivenessautomaticitydehumanizationlexical decision taskmenstrual cycle

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Last Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Isolation of Human Endometrial Stromal Cells for In Vitro Decidualization
14:55

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Published on: September 1, 2018

Ex Vivo Method for Assessing the Mouse Reproductive Tract Spontaneous Motility and a MATLAB-based Uterus Motion Tracking Algorithm for Data Analysis
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Ex Vivo Method for Assessing the Mouse Reproductive Tract Spontaneous Motility and a MATLAB-based Uterus Motion Tracking Algorithm for Data Analysis

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Area of Science:

  • Social Psychology
  • Evolutionary Psychology
  • Cognitive Neuroscience

Background:

  • Hormonal fluctuations across the menstrual cycle are known to influence female cognition and behavior.
  • Dehumanization, the perception of others as less than human, can have significant social and interpersonal consequences.
  • Previous research has explored factors influencing dehumanization, but the role of menstrual cycle hormones remains under-investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential link between hormonal shifts during the menstrual cycle and the dehumanization of others.
  • To examine whether the likelihood of conception influences automatic dehumanization processes in women.
  • To explore the role of mate-attraction goals in menstrual cycle-related dehumanization.

Main Methods:

  • Employed a semantic priming paradigm within a lexical decision task.
  • Recruited female participants categorized by varying levels of likelihood of conception (LoC).
  • Assessed word accessibility (animal vs. human words) following 'woman' and 'man' primes.

Main Results:

  • When 'woman' was the prime, participants with high LoC showed increased accessibility of animal words and inhibited accessibility of human words compared to low LoC participants.
  • No significant differences in word accessibility were observed when 'man' was the prime, regardless of LoC.
  • These findings suggest menstrual cycle-related processes automatically elicit dehumanization of women.

Conclusions:

  • Hormonal changes associated with the menstrual cycle, particularly during periods of high conception likelihood, can automatically trigger the dehumanization of other women.
  • This effect appears to be mediated by enhanced activation of mate-attraction goals.
  • The study highlights a novel connection between reproductive physiology and social cognition, specifically concerning perceptions of ingroup members.