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By Rick McGuire

Seattle -- Need a date? Men, too, can now slap on some pheromones and head out for some social interaction.

According to information presented at the American Society of Reproductive Medicine meeting here, the developer of a synthetic human pheromone for women has now evened the playing field by creating a pheromone for men.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, men using the synthetic pheromone noted a significant and distinct increase in romantic behaviors from women. Inquiring minds may wonder about the medical significance of pheromonal influences that make one sex more attractive to the other. Yet physicians are finding a number of ways to utilize these synthetic compounds.

The term pheromone was first designated by Karlson and Luscher in 1959, from the Greek words pherin (to bring or transfer to) and hormon (to excite).***

Dr. Winnifred Cutler, Ph.D.(click for bio) was a co-discoverer of what appear to be human pheromones in 1986. That same year she founded the Athena Institute for Women's Wellness in {Haverford - now Chester Springs} Pennsylvania.

Investigating the biochemistry of eros led first to a synthetic version of female pheromones (for attracting males) and now a synthetic version of male pheromones. (click for product details) Forty-six healthy and heterosexual males were enrolled for a two-week baseline period to determine whether they would keep daily behavioral records and return them to investigators. Of these, 42 men fulfilled their obligations and were determined by testing to be socially competent.

"We weren't looking for people who thought of themselves as Tarzan... "Dr. Cutler said, "We were looking for gentlemen."

All subjects were given a number of psychological tests, including one for detecting psychopathologies...The 42 social competents were randomly assigned either a (placebo) vial or pheromone vial. (The 5ml vial was emptied into the subjects' usual and preferred bottle of aftershave lotion.)

After eight weeks, 38 subjects completed the trial, 17 using the pheromone and 21 using placebo. Among those using the pheromone, there were significant and substantial increases over baseline {for pheromone wearers} in the two most intimate behaviors studied - sexual intercourse (47% vs. 9.5%) and sleeping with a romantic partner (35% vs. 5%) compared to those wearing placebo. ...So?

"I know, " Dr. Cutler said. "Why would physicians find this interesting?"

First, data suggest an infertile couple having regular intercourse may at least double their success with assisted reproductive technologies compared to couples with few episodes of intercourse or intercourse timed to ovulation.

"I have done studies showing that women who have sex, not only when they are ovulating but throughout their cycle (except when they are menstruating), will have a much higher fertility rate than women who only are having sex around the time they ovulate," she said.

"So, (pheromones) help promote intercourse, which is helpful since so many couples with infertility problems find sex is a chore. Well, here is something that will help make it easier because she will find him more attractive."

There's another medical application. At the University of Oklahoma Medical School, Dr. J. Clark Bundren uses Dr. Cutler's female pheromones in post-hysterectomized women (click for more on hysterectomy research) with complaints of reduced sexual interest, sometimes even in spite of hormonal replacement therapy.

Dr. Bundren reports that about 70% of post-hysterectomized women using pheromones report increased sexual activity.

Based on the data and a survey of the Institute's first 9000 customers, Dr. Cutler said she has been "amazed at how profoundly those using pheromones have been significantly affected - and how fast."

Pheromones also seem to have one other interesting property; they appear to increase courtliness. Admittedly, she said, the evidence is anecdotal and probably couldn't be established sytematically.

Still, said Dr. Cutler, it makes sense.

"It seems that a function of pheromones in nature is to diminish the war between the sexes, to allow for coupling (click for Dr. Cutler's book LOVE CYCLES," she said. "So it reduces hostility - and we could certainly use some of that."

COMMENT FROM ATHENA INSTITUTE: Both Athena Pheromone 10:13^tm for women and Athena Pheromone 10X^tm for men are cosmetics that can increase your attractiveness to the opposite sex. Neither product is an “aphrodisiac.”