How do women's facial preferences shift with ovulation?

• A. They prefer masculine faces when ovulating, more feminine faces when not.
• B. They prefer masculine faces only when not ovulating.
• C. They always prefer feminine faces regardless of ovulation.
• D. They prefer younger-looking faces when ovulating.

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is that women's mate preferences shift with fertility. Around ovulation, when conception is most likely, women tend to be more attracted to masculine facial features in men—traits people associate with genetic quality and dominance. Outside that fertile window, the preference shifts toward more feminine, softer facial features, which are linked to warmth, trustworthiness, and caregiving. This pattern is what the correct choice describes: a tilt toward masculine faces during ovulation and toward more feminine faces when not ovulating.

Other options don’t fit the pattern because they ignore or reverse this cycle-related shift. The effect is modest and influenced by context like relationship status and study design, but the cycle-based change in preference is the best-supported framing for how facial attractiveness changes with ovulation.