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'Kemkes-Grottenthaler A, 2003: Once Upon a Time? Human Menstrual Synchrony, Offspring Survival and Female Reproductive Success. Anthropologie (Brno) 41, 3: 241-253'. |
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| Abstract | | The convergence of the onset dates of human menstrual flow was first documented in 1971 and since then, evidence of human menstrual conversion has been far from anecdotal. However, there is also abundant evidence failing to replicate these results. Criticism hinges on several methodological shortcomings which inherently bias towards synchrony. The purpose of the current study is not to substantiate menstrual synchrony by empirical investigation, but to shift view towards its biological significance. The evolutionary approach posits that concealed ovulation, continuous sexual receptivity, and the potential for menstrual synchrony are all linked to achieve higher gains in paternal investment. However, kinship may have been overemphasized for male helpers and underestimated for females. The phenomenon of partible paternity demonstrates that male provisioning need not be contingent on biological fatherhood. At the same time, human life histories assure the availability of well-qualified allomothers such as grandmothers. It is therefore hypothesized that menstrual synchrony in human females represents a redundant life history artifact which has its origins in our primate heritage as cooperative breeders. | | | | Keywords | | Menstrual synchrony - Evolutionary biology - Allocare - Reproductive success | | |
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