Libido And The Pill

Libido And The PillWhen a woman goes on the birth-control pill, it
can heighten your sex life: no more worrying about condoms, sex without interruption, and
the feeling of skin against skin. Sex on the pill has the potential to be ever so hot.But the pill can also put a damper on your sex life in unexpected
ways. For example, many women on the pill notice a drop in sexual desire, a decrease in
their ability to lubricate and an overall decrease in sexual pleasure. Let me
explain why that could happen and what you can do about her libido and the pill:
The pill and side effects
Although oral contraceptives and vaginal rings work by way of synthetic estrogen, it is
actually their effect on a woman's testosterone that causes sexual side effects. Even
though women have only about 10% of the testosterone level coursing through their
bloodstream that men do, it is a main contributor to their libido and their sexual
fantasies. Testosterone is also responsible for maintaining the erectile tissue of the
clitoris and the glands surrounding the opening of the vagina that provide lubrication
during sexual arousal. As discussed in the Good in Bed Guide
to Female Orgasms, since oral contraceptives dampen the hormone-producing action
of the ovaries, a woman's production of testosterone is somewhat lowered when on the pill.
In addition, the synthetic estrogen from oral contraception increases the body's
production of sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). When testosterone is bound to SHBG, it
cannot be free to be used by the cells of the body. Also, being on the pill can increase a
woman's SHBG levels by 200% to 400%, which causes her levels of free testosterone to drop
drastically. It was previously thought that this effect on testosterone would
disappear when the birth-control pill was stopped. But now we know that the level of SHBG
remains well above pre-pill levels in women, even two years after stopping the pill. This
means that even after stopping the pill, a woman's sex drive may not come back as it was
before, or it may return slowly.
Should she take the pill?
That doesnt mean that she shouldnt go on the pill; it's just that you should
be aware of this possibility and be prepared to take action if she does start to
experience side effects like a lower libido. And if she finds that her birth-control pill
is affecting her sexual desire, it does not necessarily mean she should stop taking the
pill. Instead, changing the type of pill she uses may relieve some of these side effects.
Some women find that triphasic birth-control pills (different amounts of hormones every
week) have less impact on their sex drive than monophasic pills (same amount of hormones
each dose). Other women find that they experience these effects regardless of what type of
pill they use. If the woman youre having sex with decides to
discontinue the use of the birth-control pill, remember that you will need to use another
form of contraception when engaging in sexual intercourse if you want to prevent
pregnancy. Some non-hormonal options to consider are condoms or diaphragms. Sure, these
options may not be as convenient as the pill, but whats more important: your
convenience or her pleasure? Of course, being the smart guy you are, you dont even
need to think about the answer to that one.
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