Testosterone-to-oestradiol ratio is associated with female facial attractiveness

Abstract

The relationship between facial shape and attractiveness has been extensively studied, yet few studies have investigated the underlying biological factors of an attractive face. Many researchers have proposed a link between female attractiveness and sex hormones, but there is little empirical evidence in support of this assumption. In the present study we investigated the relationship between circulating sex hormones and attractiveness. We created prototypes by separately averaging photographs of 15 women with high and low levels of testosterone, oestradiol, and testosterone-to-oestradiol ratio levels, respectively. An independent set of facial images was then shape transformed toward these prototypes. We paired the resulting images in such a way that one face depicted a female with high hormone level and the other one with a low hormone level. Fifty participants were asked to choose the more attractive face of each pair. We found that low testosterone-to-oestradiol ratio and low testosterone were positively associated with female facial attractiveness. There was no preference for faces with high oestradiol levels. In an additional experiment with 36 participants we confirmed that a low testosterone-to-oestradiol ratio plays a larger role than low testosterone alone. These results provide empirical evidence that an attractive female face is shaped by interacting effects of testosterone and oestradiol.

Facial appearance and metabolic health biomarkers in women

“…Among lipid parameters, facial attractiveness, but not perceived health, was negatively related with triglycerides, LDL, and total cholesterol (although the latter relationship was not significant when p was adjusted for multiple testing), but not HDL level. Additionally, we confirmed the negative relationship between facial appearance (attractiveness and health) and BMI and testosterone levels (although the relationship was not significant when p was adjusted for multiple testing) and positive with estradiol level, reported in previous research 3,46,56,57 .…”

“…We hypothesized that the relationship between facial appearance and lipid profile may be driven by its impact on current and future health and/or by its role as a substrate for sex hormones synthesis 30 , which have been shown to be related with facial appearance 3,17,46 . However, although we confirmed the relationship between sex steroids and facial appearance, the lipid profile was only related with facial attractiveness and unrelated with facial health, and presumably it was not the level of sex hormones that explained the relationship between facial attractiveness and lipid profile, but rather BMI, negatively related with both, perceived facial attractiveness and health, but also lipid profile markers (whereas sex steroids were not related with lipid profile).…”

“…Furthermore, we hypothesized that liver enzymes, hsCRP and IL-6 levels are negatively related with facial attractiveness. Additionally, as estradiol 3 and testosterone 46 may impact not only a woman's facial attractiveness, but also levels of health biomarkers used in this study [47][48][49][50] , we included these hormones in the analyses. In order to control for the possible impact of menstrual cycle on metabolic health markers levels [51][52][53] , women were invited to participate in the study in the early follicular phase, recommended for evaluation of metabolic markers among reproductive-aged women 54,55 .…”

Electrophysiological evidence of perceived sexual attractiveness for human female bodies varying in waist-to-hip ratio

“…Indeed, Jokela (2009) found that the more attractive women had a higher reproductive success and more children. Interestingly, female facial attractiveness has also been linked to estimates of fertility (Roberts et al, 2004) and to higher levels of sex hormones (Probst, Bobst, & Lobmaier, 2016;Puts et al, 2013), in addition to BMI (Han, Hahn, Fisher, Debruine, & Jones, 2016).…”

The role of sex hormones and social determinants in assessment of facial attractiveness

“…Unknown is also the correlation between the attractiveness and current levels of sex hormones. According to available publications, the testosterone-to-estradiol ratio and low testosterone levels were positively associated with women's facial attractiveness (3). Others have found that the interaction of progesterone and estradiol adversely affect the women's attractiveness as judged by men (4).…”