Men may not be more attracted to scent of fertile women, study says

Previous studies had suggested men could sense changes in body odour, but recent test found no compelling evidence

The widespread belief that men are more attracted to the scent of a woman when she is at her most fertile may not be true after all, researchers say.

A flurry of studies in recent decades have made a persuasive case that female body odour changes over the menstrual cycle, allowing perceptive males - in theory, at least - to sense when mating is most likely to result in pregnancy.