[heavy]

Good write up. Didn't think I'd learn anything but I did.

I would like to clarify one thing. Not that you're wrong, but just to clarify.

"Now, exactly deducing this timing is exceptionally difficult for the following reasons: most women do not have the textbook 28 day cycle;
..."

Most fertile women (let's just say 18-24) have a cycle very close to 29.5 days (+/- 1 day). This is significant enough to have warranted a meta study that found these women had periods that aligned with the lunar cycles.

No doubt this would be ignored or denied by many, as far more women and the men patronizing them are older and beyond peak fertility age...but it's true.

Quote:

By selecting the subpopulation of women (approximately 30%) who cycle as often as the moon does, i.e. 29.5+1 day, a significant pattern was revealed. There was an increased likelihood of menstruation onset in the light half of the lunar month.
...
the most fertile reproductive cycle has the same length as the lunar cycle

thread-24122...#pid716259

I wonder if the purpose of the menstrual cycle was increased fertility. I know one theory on why women sync up is because of competition...the potency of male sperm drops way off after the first load, so all the chics want to be the first one to the dick.

So if menstruation can increase fertility (even just for a few days), it would encourage population growth.