Love + Sex

Monday, November 30, 2009

Myth of the Month: The pill kills your sex drive

Last week my partner saw K, a 30-year-old patient, who's been a happy oral contraceptive user for almost ten years. K has been with her partner for five years, and she came in for her annual exam last week complaining that her sex drive was non-existent for the past few months. Did K talk about her new stressful job, or her sick parent, or the rough economy? No -- she wants to get off the pill, believing that her birth control is killing her libido.

If your sex drive is low, try these 3 totally random sex-drive boosters.

The pill has long been implicated as death to the sex drive. In fact, many well-run studies have shown that the pill has no effect on the libido for the vast majority of women who take it. Most studies show the same rates of high and low libido among users of the pill and users of placebos. Some studies have actually shown libido going up among pill users -- perhaps due to the peace of mind that comes from being on a reliable birth control method. 
While it may be comforting to point to the pill as the reason why your sex drive has taken a detour, the truth is that you should look elsewhere. Heaven knows there are plenty of reasons why you may not want to have sex -- stress, illness, doubt about the relationship. And it may be a larger issue of the difference between how much you want it and how much your partner does. Either way, rest assured that it's not the pill that's likely at fault -- so you don't have to stop your good birth control method while you figure out what's going on.   Have you noticed changes in your libido while on the pill?

Weight gain? Mood swings? Pregnancy fears? Read this ultimate guide and stop settling. A method you’ll love is out there.

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Comments 1-10 of 73
  • DeAnn's Avatar
    Posted by DeAnn Thu Dec 4, 2008 10:45am PST

    I've never had an issue with any kind of birth control. Antidepressants, on the other hand, are like night & day difference.

    What finally got me off the pill was how often I COULDN'T have sex, because I was getting a period every 4 weeks. When NOT on the pill, I get 4-6 periods a year. So finally I talked to my doctor and we decided a hormonal IUD (Mirena) was best for me. It lasts 5 years and most women on it stop getting their period after a year.

    As a big plus, I don't have to take birth control every day, every week, or change an intrusive ring every month. I just see my doctor every 5 years or whenever we decide to have another baby.

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  • *GoldenGirl*™'s Avatar
    Posted by *GoldenGirl*™ Thu Dec 4, 2008 11:18am PST

    I have a very high sex drive and am on Seasonale, I love that I have only 4 periods a year so I can have alot of fun! I havent noticed a decline or increase since I have been on it, I'm still always in the mood!

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  • Chrystani's Avatar
    Posted by Chrystani Thu Dec 4, 2008 11:49am PST

    Maybe different pills. Because I know I was on a pill that mademe so not horny. Like sex?.. Eh maybe next week. And I have the sex drive of a 21 year old frat boy. So that was strange. But now I'm taking a different one and its back to frat boy status...

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  • hafeez's Avatar
    Posted by hafeez Fri Dec 5, 2008 6:28am PST

    thanks for sending this mail i gain more thing's in my life pl if any new comand pl send

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  • A Carmy of One's Avatar
    Posted by A Carmy of One Fri Dec 5, 2008 6:57am PST

    Personally... I took the pill for less than a year, and my boyfriend and I rarely had sex because I was such an incredible emotional mess because of the hormones that the pill was throwing into my body. It was horrible. I cried every single day while I was on it. I dreaded my life, my work, everything. It made me so depressed and so lonely that I didn't want him to be near me at all.

    For me, the pill didn't just kill my sex drive, it killed EVERYTHING about me.

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  • Mysterious Gryphon's Avatar
    Posted by Mysterious Gryphon Fri Dec 5, 2008 7:53am PST

    NOT SO!

    The fifteen months I was on Nuvaring was hell. I couldn't lose weight and I never, ever wanted to have sex. Like, ever. Awesome birth control - it works by making you not let your man touch you.

    Non-hormonal IUD for me.

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  • Andrea M's Avatar
    Posted by Andrea M Fri Dec 5, 2008 8:20am PST

    I am 24 and had been taking the pill since I was 16. I stopped taking it 5 months ago. And I can honestly say that since I was about 18 or 19 I have no drive at all!! I have been married for two years and about a year ago I finally realized what was wrong with me. So I went off the pill and things couldn’t be better!!

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  • NiCoL3's Avatar
    Posted by NiCoL3 Fri Dec 5, 2008 9:45am PST

    Im on Ortho-Tri Lo and I have a strong drive, but when i came off on for 6 month hiatus lol I was HOT now im like i want it..wait i lied..maybe next time?! lol

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  • Nicky's Avatar
    Posted by Nicky Fri Dec 5, 2008 10:34am PST

    I've been on 3 different brands of the pill and each one not only killed my sex drive but I gained wait and PMS went through the roof

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  • Raeann's Avatar
    Posted by Raeann Fri Dec 5, 2008 11:18am PST

    I HAVE SEEN A TOTAL DROP IN MY SEX DRIVE! MY FIANCE HATES MY NON EXISTANT SEX DRIVE, HE THINKS THAT ITS BECAUSE OF HIM BUT IM JUST NEVER IN THE MOOD..I NEVER THOUGHT THAT IT COULD BE MY BIRTH CONTROL! MAYBE IT IS!!

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Comments 1-10 of 73

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