Being a woman and a herpetologist I just have to share this new study. Researchers Nobuo Masataka and Masahiro Shibasaki recently performed a study were they observed the reaction time of 60 women during various phases of their menstrual cycle to snake photos. Their results suggest that women are quicker at spotting snakes during the luteal phase (premenstrual) of their cycles than during the early or late follicular phase (ovaries getting ready to release egg). The premenstrual phase is also the time when women experience PMS (premenstrual syndrome). The researchers suggest that the heightened hormone levels that cause irritability and anxiety during the luteal phase may be the key to the quicker detection rates of a potentially threatening stimulus, ie snakes. This may help pregnant or soon-to-be pregnant women avoid danger. Read article. Personally I’ve not observed any difference in my ability to spot snakes during different times of the month but then again I’m always irritable when I don’t catch a snake! 
(c) BW Smith 2006
ha!!!
too cool! i get irritable, too, if i don’t catch a snake…and i’m a guy!!!