, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Menstrual Cycle Phase and Duration of Oral Contraception Intake Affect Olfactory Perception

Although a significant impact of cycle phase on olfactory thresholds has been shown in females, limited data exist regard-ing discrimination and identification. Therefore, we investigated a broader range of olfactory performance and analyzed the impact of cycle phase and oral contraception. We measured 80 healthy Caucasians, including 20 females taking oral contraceptives and 40 females without oral contraception who were further divided into follicular and luteal phase. Olfactory performance of all participants was assessed twice using the “Sniffin ’ Sticks ” battery and intensity and pleasantness rating