Female aggression, in response to mounting by a male, is reduced when midbrain concentrations of 3α,5α-THP are enhanced either cyclically on pro-oestrous among young rats, in mid-age when reproductive status is maintained, when progesterone (P) is administered systemically after ovariectomy (OVX), or when 3α,5α-THP is infused to the midbrain ventral tegmental area (VTA) compared to when midbrain levels of 3α,5α-THP are low (as occurs during diestrus, decline in reproductive status in mid-age, following OVX, or when P metabolism in the VTA is inhibited). Midbrain levels of 3α,5α-THP of rats in these conditions are indicated by connected circles, as compared to dioestrous controls. * indicates significantly different from dioestrous controls, p < 0.05.