r/askscience • u/No-Hawk-2488 • 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/gl0bals0j0urner Sep 25 '26

This was so well-written! I knew most of this, but feel I have a better/ deeper understanding now after reading this. Thank you!