In previous years, researches have found significant increase of the female attractiveness around the time of ovulation. Among changes, that have been identified, were for example changes in olfactory, vocal, facial and body attractivenes. However, it has not been examined so far, whether this perception is also reflected in non-verbal expressions of women and men interacting with women. We also examined if attractiveness of men influences women nonverbal behavior depending on menstrual cycle phase. The study used a speed-dating paradigm (each person meets several people of the opposite sex for 3 minutes) and interactions were videotaped. We analyzed 391 videotapes of 92 men interacting with women who were in the follicular (187 interactions) or luteal (204 interactions) cycle phase and 391 videotapes of 34 women (18 in the follicual and 16 in luteal cycle phase). We recorded specific behavioural acts and states and these behavioural components loaded into two factors: (i) expressions of interest and (ii) expressions of disinterest. We found no significant differences in overall score of interest or disinterest in relation to the women's menstrual cycle. However, men communicating with women in the fertile phase spoke significantly longer than those communicating with women in the luteal phase of the cycle...

Despite being a physiological phenomenon that impacts billions of womxn worldwide, menstruation has long been understudied. In this dissertation, we first explore the menstrual characteristics of nearly 380,000 womxn, as collected via a self-tracking mobile health (mHealth) app, Clue. We examine how variation in menstrual cycle length is related to volatility in other experienced symptoms, helping to debunk the idea that menstrual cycles should be 'regular.' We then develop predictive models for menstruation utilizing this dataset, demonstrating first how a fully generative model that explicitly accounts for the possibility that self-tracked data may be flawed in terms of reliability can both outperform baselines and aid in the detection of self-tracking artifacts (i.e., instances where a user supposedly did not experience a period event, but in reality forgot or otherwise neglected to track it). Finally, we explore a hierarchical, deep generative model for symptom tracking, where we utilize a deep neural network to learn per-user parameters for tracking and retain a mechanism for modeling per-user likelihood of adherence. We find that leveraging symptom data at the time series level allows us to predict occurrence of next bleeding and non-bleeding tracking events with high accuracy. This work demonstrates the great potential that large-scale mHealth data holds to better understanding menstruation as a whole, as well as the importance of treating such data carefully.

Research has shown that women experience fluctuations in body weight (BW) due to water retention and/or other processes at various times in the menstrual cycle. The purpose of this study is to measure women repeatedly throughout the course of one menstrual cycle and (1) to confirm whether significant fluctuations in weight occur at various times and (2) to determine whether there are significant differences in the components of body composition by hydrostatic weighing which are related to any changes in BW. It was concluded that while significant fluctuations in BW occur at certain times in the menstrual cycle, the changes are small and do not result in significant differences in the components of body composition by hydrostatic weighing at these same times. Considerable within-subject variability occurs for all parameters, however, and further research into the mechanisms appears warranted.

No description available.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of the menstrual cycle (MC) on exercise performance across the power-duration relationship (PDR). We hypothesized females would exhibit greater variability in the PDR across the MC than males across a similar timespan, with critical power (PCRIT) and Work prime (W') being lower during the early follicular phase than the late follicular and mid-luteal phases. METHODS: Eumenorrheic, endurance-trained females (n = 10, age = 24.1 ± 5.59) performed multiple constant-load-to-task-failure and maximum-power tests at three time points across the MC (early follicular, late follicular, midluteal phases). Endurance-trained males (n = 10 age = 29.5 ± 9.18) performed the same tests approximately 10 days apart to mimic the time between the phases of the MC. RESULTS: No differences across the PDR were observed between MC phases (PCRIT: 175.66 ± 34.97 W, P = 0.632, CV = 1.28 ± 0.97 %) (W': 7916.53 ± 2316.69 J, P = 0.283, CV = 13.56 ± 6.93 %). PCRIT was similar for males and females (11.82 ± 1.44 W • kg-1 vs. 11.20 ± 1.82 W • kg?1, respectively) when controlling for leg lean mass. However, W' was larger (P = 0.048) for males (617.28 ± 130.10 J • kg?1) than females (505.24 ± 137.66 J • kg?1). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that researchers do not need to account for MC phase when conducting performance research on female subjects. Nevertheless, factors, such as body size and leg lean body mass, do limit exercise performance in males and females. As such, previous studies looking at factors limiting exercise performance in males may not always apply to females.

This study investigated the effect of vitamin B-12 supplementation on visual response time (VRT). Menstrual cycle phase (MCP) and 24-hour dietary intake of B-12 were also observed as dependent variables. This blind, placebo-controlled trial observed 14 young adult females in four treatment groups: control, 500mcg (low dose), 2000mcg (moderate dose), and 3000mcg (high dose). The study lasted 28 days, with participants treated weekly, randomly assigned to each of the treatment groups. When comparing B-12 dose treatment groups to VRT baseline, there was significant improvements in VRT. Compared to the placebo, there were no significant differences among treatment groups. Significant differences were observed among MCP in two of the four treatment groups. No significant differences were observed in 24-hour intake of B-12 prior to treatment.

Curious Cycles responds to the tensions that arise when designing technologies for menstruation and menstrual cycles, touching upon notions of curiosity, noticing, sharing, taking or making space, and our relationships with our bodies and their fluids. The project follows a Research through Design approach, guided by Soma Design and feminist research methods. Curious Cycles are a set of cultural probes; objects and interactions designed to gather experiences and insights from ve people who menstruate, throughout the duration of a cycle (approximately one month). The objects are meant to "cultivate curiosity", provoking reections on the ways we currently relate to our bodies and bodily uids and speculating on how we might relate to them in the future. This work seeks to approach the design method of cultural probes from a feminist perspective and contributes through the concept of "cultivating curiosity", a way to design menstrual cycle technologies by attending closely to the changing social and material experiences of the body, which in turn can challenge the cultural taboos surrounding menstruation. / Curious Cycles svarar mot spänningarna som uppkommer när teknologier designas för menstruation och menstruationscykeln, genom idéer kring nykenhet, att märka, att dela med sig, att ta eller göra plats, och våra relationer med våra kroppar och deras vätskor. Projektet följer en Research through Design metodik, guidad av Soma Design och feministiska forskningsmetoder. Curious Cycles är en uppsättning cultural probes; föremål och interaktioner designade för att samla erfarenheter och insikter från fem menstruerande personer genom deras hela menstruationscykel (vilka pågår cirka en månad). Föremålen är menade att kultivera nykenhet för att framkalla reektioner kring de sätt vi för närvarande relaterar till våra kroppar och kroppsliga vätskor på, och även för att spekulera kring hur vi kan relatera till de i framtiden. Detta arbete närmar sig cultural probes från feministiska perspektiv och bidrar med konceptet "cultivating curiosity", ett sätt att designa teknologier för menstruationscykeln genom att ingående uppmärksamma förändringar av sociala och materiella erfarenheter av kroppen, vilket i sin tur kan utmana kulturella tabun kring menstruation.

Although prostaglandins (PG) and oxytocin are crucial mediators of uterine contractility, their receptor-mediated effects during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and labour are not fully understood. The aim of this thesis was to elucidate the functional expression of EP, FP, TP and oxytocin receptors in isolated human myometrium relative to myocyte mRNA and signal transduction pathways. Myometrial samples were obtained from consenting non-pregnant and pregnant donors. Functional techniques were used to determine isometric muscle contractions. Primary uterine myocytes and fibroblasts were cultured at term to identify stimulated changes in calcium (Ca2+), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and mRNA. Myometrial strips exhibited spontaneous contractions, which were most active midcycle under oestrogenic conditions. At this time intrinsic contractility and responsiveness to uterotonins decreased towards the fundus. PGE2 produced bellshaped responses with predominant utero-relaxant effects mediated via the EP2 subtype. Although activity was partially restored by PGE2 through EP3/1 receptors, tissue excitation was more pronounced at FP, TP and oxytocin receptors. Despite high FP mRNA expression, the lower segment uterus was particularly responsive to U46619 and oxytocin at term pregnancy. Even so, Ca2+ mobilisation by oxytocin was greater via principal release from intracellular stores. Incubations with atosiban, progesterone and a rho-kinase inhibitor reduced oxytocin-stimulated Ca2+ transients. EP2 also attenuated oxytocic effects but this appeared to be mediated through cAMP rather than Ca2+ signalling pathways. With advancing labour, intrinsic myogenic activity declined in parallel with oxytocin desensitisation. However, TP-induced contractions were continued in the lower parturient uterus. These findings demonstrate that PG and oxytocin receptor expression are regulated in a hormone-dependent temporal and spatial manner. EP2-mediated cAMP formation appears to promote uterine quiescence, whilst TP receptors may control muscle tonus during parturition. These receptors and their messenger systems represent effective tocolytic targets for uterine hypercontractile disorders, such as dysmenorrhoea and preterm labour. / Allergan Inc.

Prostaglandins are integral mediators in reproductive processes but their exact role in uterine function is still not clear. In addition, ethical restraints have limited the availability of human tissue to investigate uterine prostanoid receptor populations. The aim of this thesis was to characterise the prostanoid receptors on the human and rat myometrium in order to evaluate the potential of the rat as an animal model of human uterine function and disease. For functional analysis of myometrial prostanoid receptors the immersion technique was utilised. LC-ESI-MS/MS was also used to measure the ex vivo myometrial release of prostanoid metabolites. The results show that both the rat and human uterus displays cyclical changes in uterine motility, with myogenicity greatest in the follicular and oestrus stages. The data also indicate that whilst the human uterus is responsive to EP3, EP2, TP, FP and IP receptor agonists, a functional population of only EP3, EP2 and FP receptors is present on the rat uterus, although the TP receptor appears to be upregulated at gestation and post-partum. The results also show that myometrial prostanoid release in the human uterus is cyclically regulated, with the greatest amount of prostaglandins being released during the late follicular stage. In conclusion, although similarities do exist with regard to the ovarian regulation of uterine motility in both the rat and human uterus, the differences in the apparent functional prostaglandin receptor populations between the two species suggest further work is required before the rat can be used as a model of human uterine function. / Allergan Inc

Bakgrund: Många studier är överens om att koffeinet har positiv inverkan på prestation under träning. Emellertid är kvinnor underrepresenterade i forskningsområdet, i synnerhet när det kommer till den hormonella påverkan som menstruationscykeln (MC) kan ha på träningen och de upplevda energi- och ansträngningsnivåerna. Syfte: Undersöka hur koffein i form av energidryck påverkar den upplevda ansträngningen och den upplevda energinivån i samband med träning hos friska, träningsvana kvinnor. Studien syftar även till att kartlägga menstruationscykeln och yttre faktorer för att kunna resonera kring hur det eventuellt kan påverka upplevelsen av energi och ansträngning under träning. Metod: Single Subject Experimental Design (SSED) har använts som metod med en AB-design, vilken består av en baslinje (A) och en interventionsfas (B). Fyra kvinnor deltog i studien och sex stycken mätningar har samlats in under respektive fas hos varje deltagare. En oberoende variabel (koffein) implementerades under interventionsfasen och den beroende variabeln (upplevd energinivå och upplevd ansträngning) mättes. Antal dagar sedan debut av senaste menstruationen inhämtades från loggböcker i respektive fas. Resultat: För samtliga deltagare antydde resultatet att 200 mg koffein gav effekt på ökad upplevd energinivå och hos tre av fyra deltagare gav koffein effekt på minskad upplevd ansträngningsnivå. En ökad upplevd energinivå sammanföll med en minskad upplevd ansträngningsgrad hos tre av fyra deltagare. Menstruationscykeln kan ha påverkat upplevelsen av energi och ansträngning, dock kan ingen effekt påvisas. Slutsats: Resultat från denna studie tyder på att 200 mg koffein innan träning har en ökad upplevd effekt på energinivå och en minskad upplevd effekt på ansträngning hos friska, träningsvana kvinnor med regelbunden menstruationscykel. / Background: Many studies agree that caffeine has a positive effect on performance during exercise. However, women are underrepresented in the research field, particularly when it comes to the hormonal influence that the menstrual cycle (MC) can have on exercise and perceived level of energy and exertion. Aim: To investigate how caffeine in the form of energy drink affects the perceived level of exertion and energy during exercise in exercise-accustomed women. The study also aims to chart the menstrual cycle and external factors to be able to reason about how it can possibly affect the experience of energy and exertion during exercise. Method: Single Subject Experimental Design (SSED) has been used as method with AB design, consisting of a baseline (A) and an intervention phase (B). Four women participated in the study and six measurements were collected during each phase from each participant. An independent variable (caffeine) was implemented during the intervention phase and the dependent variable (perceived energy level and perceived exertion) was measured. Number of days since the last menstrual cycle was obtained before each training session from all participants in each phase. Result: For all participants, the results suggested that 200 mg of caffeine before exercising increased perceived level of energy and reduced perceived level of exertion. In three out of four participants, the results suggested that an increased perceived energy level coincided with a decreased perceived level of exertion. The menstrual cycle may have influenced the experience of energy and exertion however, no effect can be demonstrated. Conclusion: Results from this study suggest that 200 mg caffeine before exercise increased perceived level of energy and reduced perceived level of exertion in healthy, exercise-accustomed women with regular menstrual cycles.