Pheromonal influences on sociosexual behavior in postmenopausal women

J Sex Res. 2004 Nov;41(4):372-80. doi: 10.1080/00224490409552244.

Abstract

To determine whether a putative human sex-attractant pheromone increases specific sociosexual behaviors of postmenopausal women, we tested a chemically synthesized formula derived from research with underarm secretions from heterosexually active, fertile women that was recently tested on young women. Participants (n = 44, mean age = 57 years) were postmenopausal women who volunteered for a double-blind placebo-controlled study designed, to test an odorless pheromone, added to your preferred fragrance, to learn if it might increase the romance in your life. During the experimental 6-week period, a significantly greater proportion of participants using the pheromone formula (40.9%) than placebo (13.6%) recorded an increase over their own weekly average baseline frequency of petting, kissing, and affection (p = .02). More pheromone (68.2%) than placebo (40.9%) users experienced an increase in at least one of the four intimate sociosexual behaviors (p = .04). Sexual motivation frequency, as expressed in masturbation, was not increased in pheromone users. These results suggest that the pheromone formulation worn with perfume for a period of 6 weeks has sex-attractant effects for postmenopausal women.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Affect / drug effects
  • Arousal / drug effects*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Perfume / administration & dosage*
  • Pheromones, Human / administration & dosage*
  • Postmenopause*
  • Quality of Life
  • Sex Attractants / administration & dosage*
  • Sexual Behavior / drug effects*
  • Social Behavior
  • Social Perception
  • Time Factors
  • United States

Substances

  • Perfume
  • Pheromones, Human
  • Sex Attractants