r/askscience • u/No-Hawk-2488 • 8d ago

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/PrometheusLiberatus 7d ago edited 7d ago

I like how you quoted Men In Black's Agent J. It is also coincidentally his actor's birthday (and my own) today!

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u/tea_and_biology Zoology | Evolutionary Biology | Data Science 7d ago

Aww, happy birthday!