Estradiol Increases Female Sexual Initiation Independent of Male Responsiveness in Rhesus Monkeys

Zehr, Julia L.; Maestripieri, Dario; Wallen, Kim

doi:10.1006/hbeh.1998.1440

Cited by 70 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Our main hypothesis was that induced hypogonadism would impair sexual functioning across multiple domains in groups of men and women. A secondary hypothesis was that considerable variability would be demonstrated in the impact of hypogonadism on sexual functioning in men and women (Wallen, 1990(Wallen, , 2001Herzog et al, 2005;Zehr et al, 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pharmacologically Induced Hypogonadism and Sexual Function in Healthy Young Women and Men

Schmidt

Steinberg

Negro

et al. 2008

Neuropsychopharmacol

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Studies fail to find uniform effects of age-related or induced hypogonadism on human sexual function. We examined the effects of induced hypogonadism on sexual function in healthy men and women and attempted to identify predictors of the sexual response to induced hypogonadism or hormone addback. The study design used was a double-blind, controlled, crossover (self-as-own control). The study setting was an ambulatory care clinic in a research hospital, and the participants were 20 men (average ± SD age ¼ 28.5 ± 6.2 years) and 20 women (average ± SD age ¼ 33.5 ± 8.7 years), all healthy and with no history of psychiatric illness. A multidimensional scale assessing several domains of sexual function was the main outcome measure. Participants of the study received depot leuprolide acetate (Lupron) every 4 weeks for 3 months (men) or 5 months (women). After the first month of Lupron alone, men received (in addition to Lupron) testosterone enanthate (200 mg intramuscularly) or placebo every 2 weeks for 1 month each. Women received Lupron alone for 2 months, and then, in addition to Lupron, they received estradiol and progesterone for 5 weeks each. The results of the study: in women, hypogonadism resulted in a significant decrease in global measures of sexual functioning, principally reflecting a significant decrease in the reported quality of orgasm. In men, hypogonadism resulted in significant reductions in all measured domains of sexual function. Testosterone restored sexual functioning scores in men to those seen at baseline, whereas neither estradiol nor progesterone significantly improved the reduced sexual functioning associated with hypogonadism in women. Induced hypogonadism decreased sexual function in a similar number of men and women. No predictors of response were identified except for levels of sexual function at baseline. In conclusion, our data do not support a simple deficiency model for the role of gonadal steroids in human sexual function; moreover, while variable, the role of testosterone in sexual function in men is more apparent than that of estradiol or progesterone in women.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pharmacologically Induced Hypogonadism and Sexual Function in Healthy Young Women and Men

Schmidt

Steinberg

Negro

et al. 2008

Neuropsychopharmacol

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“…Estradiol may be an important contributor to sexual behavior and motivation, particularly in females (e.g., rhesus monkeys; Wallen et al 1984;Zehr et al 1998). For instance, in many mammals, female sexual receptivity is at least initially dependent on processes associated with estradiol (Pfaff 1980;Rissman et al 1997).…”

Section: Sexual Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We then move on to an exploration of long-term, pair-bonded relationships, and discuss more recent evolutionary adaptations that are relational or psychological in nature, and which are possibly unique to humans. We will review how these Bnewer^psychological adaptations (such as romantic commitment and attachment) might facilitate the development of long-term pair-bonds via their ability to dampen or refocus hormonal processes related to evolutionarily older behaviors that could undermine the formation of long-term pair-bonds (for additional work on this topic, see Eastwick 2009;Eastwick and Finkel 2012).We have chosen to focus on testosterone and estradiol in particular because both hormones are consistently linked to mate-seeking and mate-competition processes (evolutionarily Bold^behaviors that we have in common with other species), and are also influenced by psychological variables that are central to the maintenance of long-term pairbonds (evolutionarily Bnew^behaviors that may be unique to humans; e.g., Hohmann and Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology (2015) 1:150-176 151 Fruth 2003;Zehr et al 1998). Ultimately, we argue that new psychological adaptations such as romantic commitment and attachment might interact with these two hormones to facilitate the transformation of short-term mating relationships into long-term pair-bonds.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We have chosen to focus on testosterone and estradiol in particular because both hormones are consistently linked to mate-seeking and mate-competition processes (evolutionarily Bold^behaviors that we have in common with other species), and are also influenced by psychological variables that are central to the maintenance of long-term pairbonds (evolutionarily Bnew^behaviors that may be unique to humans; e.g., Hohmann and Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology (2015) 1:150-176 151 Fruth 2003;Zehr et al 1998). Ultimately, we argue that new psychological adaptations such as romantic commitment and attachment might interact with these two hormones to facilitate the transformation of short-term mating relationships into long-term pair-bonds.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Intimate Relationships Then and Now: How Old Hormonal Processes are Influenced by Our Modern Psychology

Wardecker

Smith

Edelstein

et al. 2015

Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology

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In this review we argue that relatively recent evolutionary adaptations that are relational or psychological in nature might refocus, dampen, or otherwise shape hormonal processes related to evolutionarily Bolder^behaviors. We focus on the steroid hormones testosterone and estradiol and discuss a) their associations with Bolder relational processes^such as mate competition, dominance and nurturance, and b) the ways in which Bnewer relational processes^such as commitment and attachment relate to these hormones in the context of intimate relationships. We propose that these new relational processes might influence hormones in a manner that enables short-term mating relationships to be transformed into long-term romantic pair-bonds that may be unique to humans.Keywords Mating . Pair-bonds . Testosterone . Estradiol . Evolution . Adaptations Most species, including humans, have evolved some repertoire of behaviors that facilitate short-term mating (i.e., uncommitted sexual relationships that last for a short period of time, Simpson and Gangestad 1991), such as attracting desirable mates, competing for the attention of those mates, and keeping others away from mates once they have been acquired (Gangestad and Simpson 2000). These evolutionarily Boldb ehaviors occur frequently, can be engaged with limited conscious effort (Miller 1998), and are important components of the relationship initiation process.Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology (2015) 1:150-176 DOI 10.1007/s40750-015-0021-9 Britney M. Wardecker and Leigh K. Smith are co-first authors and contributed equally to this work. Only a few species, however, have evolved behaviors designed to deliberately maintain long-term, sexually exclusive relationships. Fewer than 5 % of mammalian species establish long-term, monogamous pair-bonds with adult mating partners (Kleiman 1977). A pairbond can be defined as an enduring and close relationship between two adult members of a species that generally involves sexual activity, intimacy, the desire to be close to one another, and deep emotional investment (Hawkes 2004; van Anders et al. 2011). Among humans, the formation of these types of pair bonds is a meaningful priority. For example, forming intimate connections is reported as one of the most important human motives, sometimes even more so than is meeting basic physiological needs such as securing food and water (Kenrick et al. 2010). Indeed, there may be several benefits to successfully establishing a long-term pair-bond. Pair-bonded partners benefit from increased paternal investment, which in turn promotes offspring health (Barash 1977;Fisher 1998;Kenrick and Trost 1997). The formation of long-term pair-bonds may also decrease the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (Campbell and Loving, in press), and partners who are married or committed to long-term relationships tend to live longer than their unmarried and single counterparts (Drefahl 2012;Van Poppel and Joung 2001).Yet, transforming short-term mating relationships into long-term pair...

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“…In the well-studied rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) however, oestrogens, not androgens, seem to be the critical steroids regulating sexual motivation expressed by female initiation of contact with males and presentation to males [Zehr et al, 1998;Wallen, 2001]. Especially the latter is often referred to as proceptive behaviour [Beach, 1976].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Certain Aspects of Bonobo Female Sexual Repertoire Are Related to Urinary Testosterone Metabolite Levels

Sannen

Elsacker²,

Heistermann³

et al. 2005

IJFP

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We examined the unknown relationship between testosterone and sexual behaviour in female bonobos (Pan paniscus) on a daily and long-term level. In most animal species, sexual behaviours mainly focus on reproduction. Bonobos, however, also use sexual interactions to a large extent to maintain and restore social relationships. They display an elaborate sexual repertoire that is expressed during fertile as well as non-fertile periods in life and exhibit a high degree of female control over sexual interactions. Using urinary testosterone metabolite levels of cycling and non-cycling females, we found no relationship between daily differences in testosterone metabolite concentrations and any of the sexual behaviours. However, long-term differences in the variables partially confirm the hypothesis of Jurke et al. [2001] stating that in bonobos testosterone is primarily related to non-reproductive sexual interactions. Furthermore, remarkably, a negative correlation of testosterone metabolite levels with the frequency of the females’ sexual inspections was demonstrated. No correlation was found with the frequency of sexual presentations performed by the females and with the frequency of masturbation. We present a case study on this topic in an immigrating female.

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Estradiol Increases Female Sexual Initiation Independent of Male Responsiveness in Rhesus Monkeys

Cited by 70 publications

References 31 publications

Pharmacologically Induced Hypogonadism and Sexual Function in Healthy Young Women and Men

Pharmacologically Induced Hypogonadism and Sexual Function in Healthy Young Women and Men

Intimate Relationships Then and Now: How Old Hormonal Processes are Influenced by Our Modern Psychology

Certain Aspects of Bonobo Female Sexual Repertoire Are Related to Urinary Testosterone Metabolite Levels

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