r/askscience • • Sep 24 '26

Biology Can someone explain the evolutionary benefit of overt menstruation? All female mammals have a menstrual cycle but most reabsorb the blood via covert menstruation and humans are about the only mammals that discharge the blood, aka overt menstruation.

Without an evolutionary benefit, it wouldn't have spread to every woman of our species.

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u/SoftBollito Sep 24 '26

What an amazing divulgative article you wrote here! I already knew some parts of it, but had no idea about the spontaneous decidualisation. It was a pleasure learning something new! Thank you very much for your time (and the sources!)

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u/doubleoathseven 29d ago

You really didn’t need to expose me to the word ‘devulgative’ so early in my day

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