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New Evidence Emphasizing Sense of Smell in Sexual Attraction

attraction, pheromones, sexual cuesResearchers have recently discovered a “secret sex nerve” that they say may control who you are sexually attracted too. This olfactory nerve may be the route through which pheromones are processed.

Nerve “O” has endings in the nasal cavity, but the fibers go directly to the sexual regions of your brain. Because Nerve O bypasses the olfactory cortex, it does not register a conscious smell, but rather identifies chemical sexual cues.

Research has shown that the unconscious cues processed by Nerve “O” can “make or break a relationship.” For instance, you are more likely to be attracted to people whose scent is dissimilar to your own. Couples who have high levels of chemicals in common are more likely to encounter fertility issues, miscarriage and infidelity.

However, pregnant women are drawn to people with similar chemical makeup. This means that if you are taking a hormonal contraceptive, which fools your body into thinking you are pregnant, you might be more attracted to people with similar chemical makeup. If you were on the pill when you met your mate, you might, therefore, feel less attracted to him when you stop taking it.

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Dr. Mercola''s Comments Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Pheromones are chemical signals that animals secrete to communicate their gender or reproductive status to other animals. Well, it turns out that you give off pheromones as well, and these chemicals -- which you don’t consciously smell or recognize at all -- may play a role in helping you find a good partner.

So if you find yourself inexplicably attracted to a stranger you’ve just met, it could very well be their chemical signals that you find irresistible.

Not long ago, scientists were still debating whether humans even noticed chemical signals the way other animals do, but now that is fairly set in stone.

These signals play an important role from a reproductive standpoint in that they help you find a partner who is different, chemically speaking, from yourself. This gives you the best chances of reproducing successfully and even staying together without infidelity.

Chemical signals like pheromones are, in fact, constantly at work in your environment, but they are not only about sexuality. For instance:
  • Women who sniffed fear-induced sweat became more mentally alert and intelligent, according to a study in Chemical Senses.
  • Studies have shown that women can pick a T-shirt worn by their infant from a pile of T-shirts. Babies also respond to the breast pads worn by their own mothers, but not to those worn by other women.
  • The smell of other women’s perspiration causes women’s menstrual cycles to speed up or slow down. This helps explain why women who live together often menstruate at the same time each month.
What about Pheromone-Enriched “Love Potions”?

In recent years, pheromones have become quite trendy, and they’re now showing up in perfumes and colognes that promise to make you more sexually attractive.

Do they work?

Well, some studies have actually found that people wearing these scents are more interesting to the opposite sex, but this could simply be a placebo effect, where the person believes they will be more attractive, and therefore are.

Plus, I would caution against wearing any synthetic perfume or cologne, as they’re almost always loaded with synthetic chemicals that have been linked to cancer, reproductive toxicity, allergies and more.

Another Lesson about the Dangers of Birth Control Pills

This study touches on another important factor, and that is what birth control pills may be doing to your body on a very subtle level. When a woman takes a hormonal contraceptive, her body believes, in a sense, that she is pregnant. And this causes her to become unconsciously attracted to men with a similar, rather than different, chemical makeup. Well, this may not cause any major problems for most people, but the alarming fact still exists that these pills are altering, on a very subtle level, chemical signals in your body.

There really is no telling just what implications this could have, which is why I strongly suggest that women avoid birth control pills like the plague and seek out natural family planning methods instead.


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Comment on This Article Community Comments (55)
 
 
Posted On Mar 27, 2008
Our old billy-goat used to pee on his beard and the she-goats all loved it! I tried it once and my wife kicked me out of bed! I’m “kidd"ing of course. However there is a lot to learn from watching our animal friends. Why do you think the first thing dogs do is sniff other dogs butts? ……I once……Never mind!!!!

 
The Herb Doc
Apprentice User Apprentice User, Joined On 11/2006
The Herb Doc  
Replied

KissyFace
Novice User Novice User Joined On 3/2008
KissyFace  
 
Posted On Mar 27, 2008
LMAO!!!  I laughed so hard I cried!
Thank you!


Nii
Novice User Novice User Joined On 4/2008
Nii  
 
Posted On Apr 10, 2008

ROFL --- VERY FUNNY! Thanks ;)


 
 
 
Posted On Mar 27, 2008
And then there's this:

"They discovered the O nerve in the whale when the whale offered the researcher a 'blowhole job'."

 
Islander
Moderator User Moderator User, Joined On 3/2007
Islander  
Replied

seg
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 11/2006
seg  
 
Posted On Mar 27, 2008
Funny gal you are Isl, haha, i can't stop laughing.......
There i got my laughter a day !!!!!


KissyFace
Novice User Novice User Joined On 3/2008
KissyFace  
 
Posted On Mar 27, 2008
OMG!  You guys are great!  I can't even read anymore because of the tears... Thanks for the laughs!


JollyHolly
Novice User Novice User Joined On 3/2008
JollyHolly  
 
Posted On Mar 29, 2008
Wow, where did THAT come from?!?  LMAO


Meditate for health
Novice User Novice User Joined On 6/2006
Meditate for health  
 
Posted On Apr 12, 2008

Blowing in to the hole can kill a woman.  

If need a good cunnilingus guide I'd recommend Ian Kerner's "She Comes First".


 
 
 
Posted On Mar 27, 2008
"If you were on the pill when you met your mate, you might, therefore,
experience a lessening of attraction when you cease to take it."

Does this apply to alcohol as well? That is, if you were drunk when you met your mate, might you experience a similar lessing of attraction when you sober up? :P

 
jeffa_203
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 2/2008
jeffa_203  
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SpartyOn
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 6/2006
SpartyOn  
 
Posted On Mar 28, 2008
Uh oh, what if one was drunk and on the pill?  I haven't been on the pill in a long time, but I'm thinking I will have to keep drinking forever...to save my marriage of course!


seg
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 11/2006
seg  
 
Posted On Mar 28, 2008
Sparty if you stay on the "pill" you could die from blood clots amongst other maladies..... and you still won't save your marriage now would ya !!!..Tell your hubby to "double bag" it (Islander got me laughing again from last night), so  get of that bandwagon and i'm sure you'll have both for a long,long time......


SpartyOn
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 6/2006
SpartyOn  
 
Posted On Mar 28, 2008
Seg, lol, I "haven't" been on the pill in a long long time (he doesn't need to double bag it as he had tied off, lol), and I most certainly haven't been on that bandwagon.  Too funny.


New to Natural
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 11/2007
New to Natural  
 
Posted On Mar 28, 2008
Jeffa - I don't think it has as much to do with the pheromones as it does with the beer goggles  :-) 


seg
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 11/2006
seg  
 
Posted On Mar 28, 2008
O.K good Sparty, i brushed past so fast i misinterpreted, did'nt noticed you "hav'nt".......good for you .. but i tell you your hubby got a lot of balls, no doctor is going to "snip" me, no way Jose, he ain't touching my "wiee" as my 2 yr old son says...haha, take care and a good weekend to all V VOTERS............


Nii
Novice User Novice User Joined On 4/2008
Nii  
 
Posted On Apr 10, 2008

seg - it's not really as bad as it sounds. You wouldnt even know you were "touched" when it's all said and done. Besides your wife will "embrace" you more than ever; my wife did...she became more "carefree" and her "offers [if you know what i mean] doubled...which works for me any day.

The real reason I had to [after having 2 boys] was because my wife always had issues with her monthly stuff while on the pill or on a patch. It messed her up big time...and i hated "double-bagging" for obvisous reaons. Once I got "snipped" and she was off all of that "toxic junk" her system has made a u-turn for the better and she is 100% healthier now.

Besides she carried 2 boys [now a 5yr old and 14 month old] - 18 mos of pregnancy; the least I could do was get snipped to fix everything instead of her having to "tie" her stuff up.



sedial
Novice User Novice User Joined On 11/2007
sedial  
 
Posted On Apr 10, 2008

seg - You may change your mind on getting snipped...my husband got cut, tied and cauterized (sp?) as soon as we learned we were pregnant with our 5th.  AND, as I had had 5 c-sections...that was a sacrifice he willing made.  The SMARTY made his surgery date for the beginning of March Madness two years ago, took 3 days off work and planted himself on the couch in our rec room.  He was waited on hand and foot...watched hours/days worth of basketball, getting off the couch only to use the restroom.  He "rang the little bell" to have me change out the frozen bags of peas and now, as he never used baggies...and I never used BC for all obvious reasons...he is pleased to stay put til the very end. ;-)  He would recommend it to anyone!  :-)



Nii
Novice User Novice User Joined On 4/2008
Nii  
 
Posted On Apr 10, 2008

seg - lol...really, not picking on you, but yet another confirmation from sedial...except her husband "milked" it really well... ;)



Smythe
Novice User Novice User Joined On 4/2008
Smythe  
 
Posted On Apr 11, 2008

Once you read this, you may wish you hadn't had a vasectomy, or if you were considering one you may change your mind.

A team at Northwestern University in Illinois say men who have had a vasectomy may have an increased risk of developing a neurological condition called primary progressive aphasia, or PPA.

This rare type of dementia is characterised by a steady loss of language skills.

The researchers surveyed 47 men with the condition being treated at Northwestern's Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center, as well as 57 men who did not have PPA, with an age range of 55 to 80.

www.medicinenet.com/.../art.asp



Nii
Novice User Novice User Joined On 4/2008
Nii  
 
Posted On Apr 11, 2008

Smythe - here is an excerpt I read from the article you making reference of:

"We definitely aren't saying that having a vasectomy causes this condition or that men should not have vasectomies," researcher Sandra Weintraub, PhD, tells WebMD. "It is way too early for that. We need to do more research to understand this."

Obviously, they have more work to do before etching their reserch in stone. Also to add to that about approximately 2 decades ago, theycame up with another study linking prostate cancer to Black Men who had vasectomy. That sent shockwaves among Black Men who wanted the procedure, and those who already had it done. Close to the end of the '90s, a more validated and proven study comes out with the conclusion that dismissed the prior one as having no links in Black Men to prostate cancer. I am a young Black Man...but that's besides the point...

In my opinion...it's a trend with the medical society. Remember SIDS in infants? How many times have they given us the recommended sleeping positions for our infants to help avoid SIDS? I have 2 kids, almost 4 years apart and we were told differently with both kids when they were infants. Bottom line, I dont think they REALLY know why it REALLY happens.

I dont think I will ever regret my decision regardless. I did it so my wife will not suffer any longer - that means more to me than anything else. And I enjoy very well all the "perks" that comes with it in my bedroom ;)


 
 
 
Posted On Mar 27, 2008
I see a lot of infertile women from all over and when I exam them the great majority usually have significant levels of heavy metals (mercury or aluminum mainly followed by lead and arsenic) or any number of toxic chemicals in their reproductive region...I have no doubt that along with prolonged BC use, these are the major causes of infertility since I have all to often seen couples easily conceive once the offending metals or chemicals were very specifically removed by a specialist in this work.  It is not difficult to understand that the body would purposely reject implantation of a fetus than allow the fetus to develop in a toxic dump site.  Clean up the dump site and the body will now allow for implantation.  But most Americans don't know this so instead off to the infertility clinics for what I call a Forced pregnancy.  I can't tell you how many of these children I have seen full of metals on the autistic spectrum or ended up with another birth related disability.  I was off on a tangent here but what I found interesting here is:

You are more likely to be attracted to people whose scent is dissimilar to your own. Couples who have high levels of chemicals in common are more likely to encounter fertility issues, miscarriage and infidelity.

I can't help but think how many times patients of mine have noticed a distinguished change in scent once the offending toxins were removed with a few reporting how their spouse now finds their new scent more attractive.  Our pheromones are probably heavily influenced and can change based on lifestyle influences which makes great sense. 

 
NutritionalHealingCenters
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NutritionalHealingCenters  
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Alex123
Novice User Novice User Joined On 3/2008
Alex123  
 
Posted On Apr 10, 2008

How does one 'clean up the dump site'? I'd love to know - I was exposed to high levels of arsenic levels in our town's water, for years! Lots of people sick in our neighborhood. And sadly, esp. the infants. With a lot of publicity we got the water cleaned up. But how to clear out the aftermath.

And probably why we could never conceive, despite both of us getting teated, and passing.

Thanks for bringing that up. I found it extremely interesting.

Appletree



Nii
Novice User Novice User Joined On 4/2008
Nii  
 
Posted On Apr 10, 2008

I AM LOST BIG TIME - I am still trying to understand this whole "smell/scent/chemical" issue everyone is going on about. Kaite B talks about B.O for instance. Of course no "sane or sound" person would like to be with someone with any type of B.O; it's a turn off even for men.

But I dont think this is really what the article was about though...unless I am wrong or interpreting it differently. From what I gathered, these "scents/smells" we pick up we are not even aware of. Having said that, it means one could be attracted to someone with B.O until the more obvious smell - the one we are conscious of - overrides that subtle "chemical scent" our subconscious picked up initiall to give the person that attraction in the first place.

I a writing this under NutritionalHealingCenters so maybe I can get a more conrete explanation from him/her.

There must be something wrong with me - because I thought I "know" the kind of wonam I am attracted to coming from 20 feet away.

On a different note, Alex123 - sorry to hear about your issue; that's a real issue as opposed to this whole "scent" thing most have commented on. Iwish you luck and hope that you get better help/advice from NutritionalHealingCenters that will also extend to the folks in your neighborhood. GOOD LUCK!!!



alm260
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 6/2006
alm260  
 
Posted On Apr 10, 2008

This seems to make logical sense.  We have some younger friends who have tried and tried to get pregnant and over the last 3-4 years, nothing.  So they've given up and trusting that if the Lord wants them pregnant it will happen.  What's sad is I've tried suggesting alternative stuff and they aren't open to it anymore.  They've tried the traditional medical establishment and it didn't help.  Oh how I wish people would give alternative medicine a chance before running to the doctor.



Townie
Novice User Novice User Joined On 3/2008
Townie  
 
Posted On Apr 11, 2008

This is to Alex123 who posted on 4/9 the question of how to "clean up" your body of environmental toxins. Poisons such as arsenic may remain in our bodies in the form of toxic metal residues for many years or for an entire lifetime, unless the affected person undergoes a prolonged and expensive chelation procedure. But wait...there is a better way! It has been found that eating the leaves of raw Cilantro (aka Chinese Parsley) begins flushing toxic metal residues harmlessly out of the body via the urine within one hour after consumption! This has been proven in labratory studies for quite some time. I recommend that you purchase organically grown Cilantro. No other plant from the "parsley" family, or any other known plant, has this beneficial effect. Cilantro is popularly used as a garnish on Asian foods or in Mexican foods such as fresh tomato salsa. Wishing you better health, and bon apetite!


 
 
 
Posted On Mar 27, 2008
...which is why guys with bad breath and skunky armpits turn me off, though I don't like those who bathe in cologne either.  I prefer the fresh, clean, natural smell.

Just say no to B.O.  :)

 
Katie B
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 1/2008
Katie B  
Replied

Gazer
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 3/2008
Gazer  
 
Posted On Apr 10, 2008

Women who bathe themselves in perfume turn off far more men than they attract. Personally, I'd rather smell natural scents/odors, even B.O. than perfumes.


 
 
 
 
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