According to new research published on May 4, 2010, oral contraceptives may have a distinct disadvantage for the woman in the bedroom. A study conducted at the University Hospital in Tuebingen, Germany revealed that more women on birth control pills are at risk for sexual dysfunction.
German Study Looks at Effect of the Pill on Sex
The study included more than 1,000 women, most of whom had been in a stable relationship with the same partner for the previous six months. Eighty seven of the participants had used a form of contraception in the last six months and nearly all of them reported sexual activity in the last four weeks.
By far, most of the women participating were using birth control pills. Nearly 70% of the women reported that they were taking oral contraceptives, as compared to 22% using condoms and 7% using a vaginal contraceptive ring. The remaining participants were using fertility awareness, IUD's, contraceptive implants or other forms of contraception.
Study Shows Birth Control Pills Alter Sexual Hormones
The German researchers discovered that sexual dysfunction was much more prevalent among the women who were currently taking birth control pills. In fact, nearly 33% of the women reported having a variety of sexual problems including a lack of sex drive, orgasm, arousal, satisfaction and lubrication.
As compared to the women taking oral contraceptives, women using non-hormonal contraception such as condoms, reported the fewest problems with sex and the highest level of sexual functioning. The women who reported the highest risk of sexual dysfunction were those using non-oral hormone contraceptive methods. In other words, the women most at risk for sexual dysfunction were those who used contraceptive methods that altered hormones.
The findings showed that, while many factors can play a role in sexual function, by altering the woman's hormones, birth control pills also seem to affect her ability to experience sexual pleasure. Experts suggest that birth control pills lower the androgen levels in the woman's bloodstream, thereby reducing the amount of testosterone necessary for sexual desire.
What Women Need to Know about Sex and the Pill
Based on the latest information, experts in the area of sexual medicine recommend that women ought to be warned that taking birth control pills will likely alter their hormones in such as way that their sexual desire and arousal could be affected.
For More Information
Additional findings from the study can be found in the May 4, 2010 issue of the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Brenda Lane - Brenda Lane is a published author, Lamaze certified childbirth educator, DONA certified birth doula and approved birth doula trainer.
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