Vulpix
05-05-2010, 11:15 AM
Taking the Pill can be a passion killer (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1271530/Taking-Pill-passion-killer.html)
Daily Mail: Women taking the Pill are at risk of losing their sex drive because oral contraceptives drastically reduce the ability to feel desire and arousal, according to a survey.
Other hormonal methods of contraception, such as implants, also put a similar dampener on libido.
But researchers made the surprising discovery that relying on condoms and other barrier methods of contraception could do more for a woman's arousal than having unprotected sex.
They speculate having sex without the fear of pregnancy boosts the potential for enjoyment.
It is thought synthetic hormones in the Pill which stop ovulation, but also lower levels of testosterone - vital to both male and female libido - could be responsible for plummeting levels of desire.
The survey, published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine by researchers at the University of Heidelberg in Germany, involved more than 1,000 young women.
Journal editor-in-chief Dr Irwin Goldstein said: 'This is very important research.
'There are hundreds of millions of women, in particular young women at the beginning of their sexual lives, who regularly use hormonal contraception for many years.
'The irony is these women are provided a medication that enables freedom from reproductive worries but these same women are not provided information that there are significant adverse effects that may ensue.
'Agents that interfere with the hormonal milieu of women may adversely affect their sexual lives.'
In the study around 97 per cent had been sexually active in the last month and 87 per cent had used contraceptives in the last six months.
Around one third were considered to be at risk for female sexual dysfunction (FSD), a disorder with symptoms such as low desire.
Women on the Pill had the lowest scores for sexual function, desire and arousal than those using non-hormonal methods of contraception, such as the coil or condoms.
Those using barrier methods had the highest sexual function score - meaning they were least likely to suffer libido problems.
But those having unprotected sex did not fare well, said researcher Dr Lisa-Maria Wallweiner.
'Interestingly, women taking non-hormonal contraceptives were at lowest risk for FSD, more than women not using any contraceptive,' she said.
'Sexual problems can have a negative impact on both quality of life and emotional wellbeing, regardless of age.
'FSD is a very common disorder, with an estimated prevalence of about two in five women having at least one sexual dysfunction and the most common complaint appearing to be low sexual desire.'
Around one in four women under 50 in the UK uses the Pill - roughly the same proportion that rely on condoms.
Previous research has linked the Pill to a reduction in sexual desire for one in six women.
Daily Mail: Women taking the Pill are at risk of losing their sex drive because oral contraceptives drastically reduce the ability to feel desire and arousal, according to a survey.
Other hormonal methods of contraception, such as implants, also put a similar dampener on libido.
But researchers made the surprising discovery that relying on condoms and other barrier methods of contraception could do more for a woman's arousal than having unprotected sex.
They speculate having sex without the fear of pregnancy boosts the potential for enjoyment.
It is thought synthetic hormones in the Pill which stop ovulation, but also lower levels of testosterone - vital to both male and female libido - could be responsible for plummeting levels of desire.
The survey, published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine by researchers at the University of Heidelberg in Germany, involved more than 1,000 young women.
Journal editor-in-chief Dr Irwin Goldstein said: 'This is very important research.
'There are hundreds of millions of women, in particular young women at the beginning of their sexual lives, who regularly use hormonal contraception for many years.
'The irony is these women are provided a medication that enables freedom from reproductive worries but these same women are not provided information that there are significant adverse effects that may ensue.
'Agents that interfere with the hormonal milieu of women may adversely affect their sexual lives.'
In the study around 97 per cent had been sexually active in the last month and 87 per cent had used contraceptives in the last six months.
Around one third were considered to be at risk for female sexual dysfunction (FSD), a disorder with symptoms such as low desire.
Women on the Pill had the lowest scores for sexual function, desire and arousal than those using non-hormonal methods of contraception, such as the coil or condoms.
Those using barrier methods had the highest sexual function score - meaning they were least likely to suffer libido problems.
But those having unprotected sex did not fare well, said researcher Dr Lisa-Maria Wallweiner.
'Interestingly, women taking non-hormonal contraceptives were at lowest risk for FSD, more than women not using any contraceptive,' she said.
'Sexual problems can have a negative impact on both quality of life and emotional wellbeing, regardless of age.
'FSD is a very common disorder, with an estimated prevalence of about two in five women having at least one sexual dysfunction and the most common complaint appearing to be low sexual desire.'
Around one in four women under 50 in the UK uses the Pill - roughly the same proportion that rely on condoms.
Previous research has linked the Pill to a reduction in sexual desire for one in six women.