According to a study found in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, it appears that women who use hormonal birth control (like the pill, NuvaRing, etc.) experience more sexual dysfunction than those who use nonhormonal contraception.
In fact, of the 1,000+ college girls questioned, one-third of them reported sexual problems associated with desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction or pain. The female students who used hormonal contraception had the lowest overall sexual function scores - including exhibiting lower scores on desire and arousal as compared to females not using any contraception or those using nonhormonal birth control.
Overall, the female students who were using nonhormonal contraceptives had the highest sexual functioning scores whereas those who used non-oral hormonal contraceptives such as Depo Provera or the Ortho Evra Patch.
What might these results be attributed to? Well the researchers suggest that the hormones in these birth control methods may reduce circulating testosterone levels. Given that testosterone is required to stimulate sexual desire and regulate genital blood flow, the lower levels may not provide enough stimulation and regulation. I wonder if these results somehow point to an underlying issue between sexual desire and hormonal contraception uncovered by other researchers as well:
- A Woman's Birth Control Method Can Affect Her Enjoyment of Pornography
- Birth Control Pills - Can They Affect How Sexy a Man Smells?
Birth Control Pill Photo © 2011 Dawn Stacey
