Psychosomatic Medicine 3:199-224 (1941)
© 1941 American Psychosomatic Society

A Psychosomatic Study of the Sex Cycle in Women

¹ Cornell University Ithaca, N.Y.

Ten mature college women, ranging in age from 22 to 36 years, were observed during a total of 55 menstrual cycles, covering a period of five months.

The length of the cycles varied from 23 to 61 days. The average cycle length was 29.6 days. On the average the event of ovulation as determined by the electrical method occurred on the 11.8th day of the cycle with a variation from the 5th to the 23rd day. Even for the same individual there was very rarely a repetition of the spacing of ovulation in consecutive cycles, a variation from the 5th to the 16th day being no exception. The averages of the non-ovulatory potentials ranged from 3.17 to 4.05 mv in the subjects, while the potentials at the time of ovulation averaged from 7.88 to 16.28 mv. The cyclic changes in the vaginal smear gave positive confirmation of the ovulation as determined by the electrical method in 85 per cent of the cases. The evidence for ovulation from the curve of basal rectal temperature coincided with the electrical evidence for ovulation in 58 per cent of the cases. The pulse rate showed no significant cyclic fluctuations. Cycles with apparently normal menstruation, but in which ovulation could not be detected with the electrical, vaginal smear and temperature methods, occurred in 11 per cent of the cases.

Psychobiological observations revealed, as the most universal and conspicuous reaction, an outburst of physical and mental activity before the onset of menstruation, coupled with high tension and irritability and preceded or accompanied by depressions. Another high in activity was discovered to dominate the ovulative phase of the cycle, but this type of activity was free from nervous tension and generally bore the character of an elation.

The authors acknowledge their indebtedness to the ten volunteer women whose confidence and cooperation made this study possible, and to Dr. H. S. Liddell who suggested this study and whose stimulating interest and helpful criticism continued throughout the experiment.

Note:
The expenses of this study, which is part of a more extensive investigation of the estrus cycle in relation to behavior, were in part defrayed by a grant to H. S. Liddell from the Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation.

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