Tag: fertility

Do Human Women Go Into Heat?

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Q: Do human women go into heat?

A: No.  The biological term for heat is “estrus“.  In mammals that only have sex for reproduction (which is most of them), female animals send out both chemical and physical signals when they are fertile and that’s the only time they have sex.  The phrase “going into heat” means that a female animal is “receptive” (fertile and willing/able to get pregnant).  This maximizes the chances of pregnancy.  Since humans have evolved to be able to have sex for pleasure as well as for reproduction, we don’t have an estrus cycle.  Humans can have sex at any time during the menstrual cycle, not just at the times the female is fertile (able to get pregnant).

Fertility and Bulimia?

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Q:  Is it true that women lose fertility by being bulimic?

A: A woman has to maintain a certain level of body fat for her body’s systems to function normally.  That normal function includes having regular menstrual cycles and periods.  It is true that women who have anorexia and bulimia and who lose too much body weight will stop having menstrual cycles and periods.  Their body is simply too weak to maintain that system.

In fact, there are many things that can disrupt or stop a girl’s menstrual cycle and periods.  Excessive weight gain or weight loss can do it.  Excessive exercise that results in a dramatic loss of body fat can also do it.  Excessive stress can also do it.  The good news is that this is usually reversible.  If the woman regains a healthy amount of body fat (or reduces her body fat to a healthy level) her body will be able to manage her menstrual cycle again.