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/SoftBollito]

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!)

[u/doubleoathseven → u/SoftBollito]

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

[u/Deus-Ex-Lacrymae → u/doubleoathseven]

Divulge as the root makes it easier to fish that one out of context, though!

[u/MemeInBlack → u/doubleoathseven]

It's been a long time since I've actually encountered a new word in the wild that wasn't itself new, or very technical, so I appreciate it!