Do women look different on their most fertile day?

[BellyAching19]

Light hearted!!!
I remember reading years ago that when women are in their most fertile days they naturally look more attractive to men but not in an obvious way.

Anyway, I partake in a very male orientated sport. So male orientated in fact that I’m the only woman there. I’m treated just like the blokes. I’m not a feminine woman, I don’t wear make up, am very much average looking and I don’t even wear nice clothes, I wear what’s comfy. The blokes at my sport do not look at me in other other way than another “bloke” I suppose.

Anyway Fitbit has started tracking my menstrual cycle and yesterday was apparently my most fertile day. Obviously I didn’t go around broadcasting it!!

Funnily enough, when I got to my class the instructor said I had a “nice glow” to my face ... said I had a bit of a spark ... asked if I was pregnant! Someone else said I’m “looking well” and another made a comment directed at me being “fit” which I wasn’t meant to overhear.

This was all really unusual! Do you reckon there’s any truth in this “fertile” attraction?

(Disclaimer: light hearted, not intended to start up feminist debates about comments at a sport, not trying to say I’m gorgeous and everyone fancies me ... just generally interested in what others think about this concept)

I don't know about looking different, but your pheromones will change according to your cycle, so you'll smell different and the men will subconciously pick up on that and respond accordingly!

You definitely put off pheromones which will make you seem more appealing. I suspect that’s what’s being picked up on. Though it’s a bit grim thinking that your instructor is just reacting to his primal instinct to mate with you.

He did apologise after he said it and recognised that it probably wasn’t appropriate. He’s approaching his 70s and tends to speak without thinking.

This is quite interesting. I've never thought of that but am definitely going to check myself out on my most fertile day 😀

My DP said something similar recently, that my face changes shape on my most fertile days. No idea how though.

Not sure whether it’s obvious to others but I definitely think I look more attractive just after my period and in the run up to ovulation!

Well I don't know if I look different to other people but there are definitely a couple of days when I fancy absolutely everybody so maybe they are picking up on that for me!

Yes i agree. My dh says i smell different when i am on my fertile days. Thats how he can predict when my next period will be... I. Not regular either! He generally tells me that i will have a period soon when i haven't had one in months due to 'the sexy smell' he calls it. He's been right every time!

I don't know if I physically appear different but some months I experience a strong feeling of wellbeing and energy in the days running up to ovulation and also I find myself suddenly finding random men very attractive, strangers in public, even colleagues who I barely notice the rest of the time etc, so my libido definitely spikes! I'm also more aware of men flirting with me at this time, I'm usually oblivious if a man is looking at me or trying to flirt.

My conclusion is that it may be a spike in attractiveness or it may be a spike in appearing to be sexual available that happens (I'm happily married for the record).

pheromones

Any links ? Because last time I researched human pheromones were like the yeti - much discussed, never seen; from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_sex_pheromones

No study has led to the isolation of true human sex pheromones, though various researchers have investigated the possibility of their existence

The ever-excellent Sara Pascoe covered this in detail in "Animal" for a more informal trip around the subject.

Given human social evolution, there's a lot of sense in keeping ovulation hidden as a mechanism for ensuring continual male attention ...

It is entirely possible that women act slightly differently when ovulating coupled with a possible sensitivity in males to pick up subtleties of physiological changes (although I do wonder about the wisdom of an evolutionary strategy relying on mens sensitivity to anything ...). But that would be for another post ...

Thanks for the replies! I was expecting a load of sour faced sarcasm (I’ve been here a while 😁)

Another thing I noticed was that everyone was really nice to me ... not in a flirty way but almost as though I appeared more vulnerable!! I don’t know, it was weird. It’s a combat sport so is no “niceness” normally - infact im normally shouted at and knocked about a bit but last night seemed very different! I’ve never tracked my menstrual cycle before so im finding it fascinating!

Can’t say I’ve noticed this, I seem to be invisible no matter what time of the month it is 🙄

Not sure about the most fertile day, but I have irregular periods and can tell when I'm due as I'm more attractive the day before. It's like a healthy glow, I look brighter and healthier, skin looks great, people comment that I'm looking well. Is that maybe my body's last-ditch attempt each month to get pregnant?!

Definitely. I’ve noticed this since my 20s. Whether it’s smell, looks or tiny differences in behaviour/micro expressions, I don’t know.

Agree, my DH always knows, not sure if it’s something about the way I look, or pheromones, but we always joke about it!

Agree, my DH always knows, not sure if it’s something about the way I look, or pheromones, but we always joke about it!

When DW thinks it's time for her implant to be replaced, the Dr. always asks - dead seriously - what my views are. And it's true that over a few days there is an elevated .... tension which seems to match the blood tests saying it's time for a new one.

What ill-mannered weirdo asks someone if they're pregnant?

All I know is that when I'm ovulating I seem to get eye-f*cked by men a lot more.

(Apologies for vulgarity but what they do is not exactly subtle).

@BellyAching19

They can probably smell you when you're 'on heat.'

www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/men-can-detect-when-women-are-ovulating/article4302462/

Agree with @yarenbaren it's very odd for someone to ask a woman if she's pregnant. And rude.

I tend to be more horny at that time so dh definitely enjoys that lol. I think there is some truth in it though as dh always comments that my hair looks really silky or my skin is glowing and I have read about pheromones.