Menstrual synchrony

[Ladyof2024]

I recently read about menstrual synchrony and am now curious to know if it is a true phenomenon or a myth. From my menarche to my menopause I never lived with other women who menstruated so have no personal experience to draw upon.

It occurred to me that on Mumsnet there must be thousands of women who have lived with teenage daughters or with lesbian partners or with room mates etc. If this is you, can you please tell me, is it a true phenomenon or a myth?

yes,within 3months we (4girls) were sych
god daughter her and 15yr old
multiple females are that way
i think it is about lunar or phremones not be close only
www.forbes.com/sites/alicebroster/2020/08/07/the-science-behind-period-syncing/

There was someone at Oxford who discredited this myth last year.

I’ve lived with a female partner and female offspring. No synching. I imagine since the advent of the pill, it’s even less likely

Apparently this myth has been busted but when I met one of my best friends who I spend a huge amount of time with we were 2 weeks different in cycle. A year in and we are synced. I am also synced with two other close friends and my sister so who knows! I also wouldn't take a man's word into any research done on the female body.

It’s bullshit. Sad but true.

Confirmation bias in action according to multiple studies.

It's a load of rubbish. I have 2 sisters and we lived together for many years after puberty. Never had our periods at the same time.

I’m synchronised with my assistant at work and my best friend. Always!

My teenage daughter and I are in sync and have been for a few years.

Even without completely regular cycles if one month is slightly off it seems to go back in sync within a couple of months

Thanks for the replies so far.

Yes, supposed to be pheromones that does it. Or doesn't, as the case may be!

I see the result of the poll so far is 40% vs 60%.

I note that it is sufficiently in the public consciousness for stand-up comedians to reference it and get laughs of recognition.

It’s an urban myth, everyone has heard of it

According to my poll, on this, a predominently female site, 45% believe it's true.

Well yeah, that’s my point. They wouldn’t be urban myths if no one believed them!

Women’s periods will overlap often - because we have a hell of a lot of them, very frequently, and that frequency will change from person to person.

At some point those frequency will drop into synch, and we notice that. We notice less when it drifts apart again - confirmation bias.

Then there’s the 4 billion women and girls in the world. Across that population, loads and loads will menstruate at the same time. So when looking at the broader population, yes, it is very easy to see clusters of women living together whose cycles are in sync.

It sounds plausible that it might happen, there are lots of examples where it has happened, and it’s a rather appealing idea.

Religions have been founded with less justification.