Well, yes and no. Your hormone levels are affected by the birth control pill – decreasing the highs and lows of estrogen and progesterone – and estrogen levels do affect sexual arousal and libido. This means the pill can lower your natural libido. In particular, the pill appears to:
- decrease sexual enjoyment
- decrease lubrication during sexual intercourse
The ironic thing is, if you stop taking the pill to get your libido back (and it does come back) your increasing the risk of pregnancy. So before throwing out your pack of pills, talk to your doctor about other options. Some women find that triphasic pills (which deliver differing amounts of hormones every week) don’t interfere as much with their sex drive than monophasic pills (which deliver the same amount of hormones each dose).
If you decide that getting off the pill is the only way to go be sure to use another form of protection, like a condom or a diaphragm, when having sex.
How does the Pill affect sex drive?
The pill can affect your sex drive by acting directly on your sexual hormones. It inhibits the production of androgens, including testosterone, in the ovaries. Androgens have a direct effect on the pleasure you experience during sex. It also appears that the pill increases the amount of sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in the body. SHBG is a protein that adheres to testosterone, stopping your body from using it effectively. High levels of SHBG have been directly linked to decreased libido and sexual desire.
However, on a positive note progesterone levels appear to be controlled by the pill, sparing you the discomfort of premenstrual bloating and tenderness associated with your period – and giving you more time during the month to feel sexier.
Birth Control Buzz is a service company that provides birth control prices, types of birth control (prescription required), health administrative services, and birth control statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase pharmaceuticals on-line.
For more information, call 1-866-868-8850 or visit http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.
Birth Control Buzz is a service company that provides birth control prices, types of birth control(prescription required), health administrative services, and birth control statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase pharmaceuticals on-line. For more information, call 1-866-868-8850 or visit http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.
