Attractive women are wired to have more flings and cheat on long-term partners, a new study suggests. Women considered beautiful—by themselves and others—have more of the hormone estradiol, a form of estrogen that fuels lust and racy behavior. Saliva samples and sexual histories were collected from 52 participants, whose attractiveness was then rated for the study, reports the Telegraph.
In finding a sexual partner, such women judge good genes against long-term stability. Prettier women, whose expectations and options are greater, “may have fewer reasons to be committed to any particular partner if higher quality potential mates are available,” says the study’s author, noting that some women fight that ingrained urge and stay committed to a single partner. (More sex stories.)