Abstract
The present study was designed to examine changes of taste sensitivity in university female students during the menstrual cycle. Basal body temperatures were recorded every day for 3 months. Taste sensitivities were examined on seven different regions of the tongue for 4 basic tastes. Eleven out of 25 subjects showed normal basal body temperature patterns during the menstrual cycle. The tip of the tongue was the most sensitive site for discriminating taste. Taste sensitivities changed during the menstrual cycle. Sweetness was keen during the luteal and follicular phases and insensitive during ovulation and menstruation. Sourness was keener during the luteal phase than during ovulation. Sensitivities to the basic 4 tastes showed no relationship to each other between the follicular and luteal phases.
