Changes

{{Construction Site}}A '''pheromone''' is a type of ectohormone secreted by an individual and perceived by a second individual of the same or similar species, thereby producing a change in the sexual or social behavior of that individual.<ref name="farler2012farlex2012">Pheromone. (n.d.) Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary. (2012). Retrieved June 11 2021 from {{REFweb |url=https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/pheromone |title=Pheromone |website=Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary |date=2012 |accessdate=2021-06-12}}</ref>

==Pheromones in humans== Pheromones are important in many animal species but, until recently, were thought to be unimportant in humans. <ref>{{REFjournal |last=Cohn |first= |init=BA |author-link= |etal=no |title=In Search of Human Skin Pheromones |journal=JAMA Dermatology |location= |date=1994-08 |volume=130 |issue=8 |article= |page= |pages=1048-51 |url=https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/article-abstract/555981 |archived= |quote= |pubmedID=8053704 |pubmedCID= |DOI=10.1001/archderm.1994.01690080114018 |accessdate=2021-06-11}}</ref> It has now been shown, however, that the timing of ovulation in women can be controlled by pheromones from the armpit. This is believed to be the explanation of the fact that women living together will frequently develop synchronized menstrual cycles.<ref>{{REFjournal |last=Stern |first=Kahleen |init= |author-link= |last2=McClitock |first2=Martha K. |init2= |author2-link= |etal=no |title=Regulation of ovulation by human pheromones |journal=Nature |location= |date=1998-03-12 |volume=392 |issue= |article= |page= |pages=177-9 |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/32408 |archived= |quote= |pubmedID=9515961 |pubmedCID= |DOI= |accessdate=2021-06-11}}</ref><ref name="collins2004">Pheromone{{REFweb |last=Anonymous |url=https://medical-dictionary. (nthefreedictionary.d.) com/pheromone |title=Pheromone |website=Collins Dictionary of Medicine |date=2004 |accessdate=2021-06-12}}</ref> Fleiss et al. (2004, 20051998)reported that the moisture found under the [[foreskin]] contains pheromones such as androsterone and others. Retrieved June 11 <ref name="fleiss-hodges-vanhowe1998">{{FleissP HodgesF VanHoweRS 1998}}</ref>  Androsterone is found in the human axilla and [[skin]] as well as in the [[urine]]. It may also be secreted by human sebaceous glands. It is described as having a musky odor similar to that of androstenol. Androsterone has been found to affect human behavior when smelled.<ref>{{REFbook |last=Maiworm |init=RE |author-link= |last2=Langthaler |init2=WU |author2-link= |year=1992 |title=Influence of Androstenol and Androsterone on the Evalulation of Men of Varying Attractiveness Levels |url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-1-4757-9655-1_88 |work=Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 6 |editor=Richard L. Doty, Dietland Müller-Schwarze |edition= |volume= |chapter= |pages=575-9 |location=New York |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-1-4757-9657-5 |quote= |accessdate=2021 from -06-12 |note=}}</ref> ==Conclusion== Many find the musky aroma of the [[intact]] human [[foreskin]] to be attractive, stimulating, and even arousing, not only because of the musk, but because of the pheromones which also are present.<ref>{{REFweb |url=https://medical-dictionarywww.thefreedictionaryquora.com/pheromoneIs-the-musky-smell-of-the-male-genital-area-attractive-or-pleasant?share=1 |title=Is the musky smell of the male genital area attractive or pleasant? |last= |first= |website=Quora |accessdate=2021-06-12}}</ref>While the evidence accumulated to date is not strong, there is evidence that the [[foreskin]] does emit pheromones. {{SEEALSO}}* [[Immunological and protective function of the foreskin]]* [[Preputial sac]]* [[Smegma]]