Is there a Bruce effect in humans?
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The possibility of a Bruce effect in humans remains uncertain and controversial. While the Bruce effect in animals involves a pregnant female miscarrying upon exposure to a novel male's scent, its occurrence in humans hasn't been definitively proven.
and discussed a high rate of spontaneous miscarriages in humans. Some studies suggest that up to 90% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage, often due to failed implantation in early stages: many are unresolved and possibly analogous to the Bruce effect observed in animals 1.
Furthermore, the Bruce effect's reliance on olfactory signals via the Vomeronasal organ (identified in animals) is intriguing but contested in human biology. Humans possess a vestigial structure of this organ, but its functionality is debated; hence, the exact mechanism, if it exists for humans, is unknown 2.
In a related study, hypothesized and gathered circumstantial evidence showing altered olfaction in women with unexplained repeated pregnancy loss. These women could identify their spouses' body odors with much greater accuracy compared to controls, suggesting a possible connection albeit not a proven causation yet 3.
Thus, while there are hints and suggestive patterns, firm evidence for the Bruce effect in humans is still lacking.
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