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Induced Ovulation

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  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science

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Definition

Induced ovulation is the phenomenon of females of a species having their ovulation be triggered by the act of coitus.

Introduction

Jöchle (1973) challenged the research at the time that argued that “induced” or “provoked” ovulation did not exist in the human species. According to others, the phenomenon was almost considered mythical, existing only in “old wives tales” with no evidence in the medical literature. Jochle, however, reviewed the existence of coitus-induced ovulation in several species, where it “synchronizes semen disposition, transport, and capacitation, as well as of ovulation” (p. 523).

Jöchle (1973) reported that induced ovulating species were most likely induced by nervous stimulation of the genital tract, which triggered luteinizing hormone release (luteinizing hormone is the hormone responsible for ovum release or ovulation). However, current research in induced/spontaneously ovulating species shows that not only it is the seminal fluid that induces...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State University of New York at Oswego, Oswego, NY, USA

    Rebecca L. Burch

Authors
  1. Rebecca L. Burch
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Correspondence to Rebecca L. Burch .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA

    Todd K. Shackelford

  2. Rochester, MI, USA

    Viviana A. Weekes-Shackelford

Section Editor information

  1. Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO, USA

    Brian B Boutwell

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Burch, R.L. (2019). Induced Ovulation. In: Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1797-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1797-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

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