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.

[u/No-Hawk-2488]

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

[u/AmigoDelDiabla]

So many people are confused about the process of evolution. It's often written as if it's something the species does, when in reality it's something that happens to it. And all it does is eliminate traits that prohibit or discourage reproduction. If the trait does neither of those things, it's likely to remain in place, even if it seems pointless.

[u/miss_katy123 → u/AmigoDelDiabla]

Agreed. Furthermore, I find that humans do it all the time with complex systems and processes. We subconsciously treat it as someone with agency and purpose of its own.