The contraceptive pill changes who you fancy, what you wear and even whether you decide to apply fake tan, a new book claims.
As doctors called for wider availability of birth control to mark World Contraception Day on Thursday, US psychologist Dr Sarah E Hill explained how the daily tablet affects women.
She said for those who are not on the pill, their menstrual cycle is divided into two halves – pre-ovulation and post-ovulation.
During the pre-ovulation period the body prepares for conception with the hormone oestrogen dominating.
Afterwards, progesterone dominates, preparing the body for the possibility of embryo implantation.
These hormones mean that before ovulation, oestrogen helps women feels flirtatious, sexier and more interested in attracting a man to make conception possible.
Specifically, women are attracted to tall, symmetrical men with deep voices who exude confidence and ambition.
This is because these qualities indicate high levels of testosterone and good health, which is more likely to result in successful pregnancies, Prof Hill’s new book, How The Pill Changes Everything said.
In contrast, progesterone dominates after ovulation.
During this time, women are more attracted to men who will be good providers and are more turned on by intelligence and financial stability – in a bid to provide for the embryo that might be growing in their bodies.
But being on the pill means hormone levels remain constant, with progesterone dominant throughout the cycle.
This is designed to prevent pregnancy – but also means that women on the pill are often not interested in sex and are more attracted to stable providers throughout the cycle.
Being on the pill also means women are less interested in making themselves look attractive.
This means it can change her preference in clothes, diet, exercise, beauty products – and even whether she wants to apply fake tan.
But in the last decade, a number of other Long Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) options have become available. These include implants, hormone-based coils and copper [non-hormonal] coils.
A number of advocacy groups have been lobbying Health Minister Simon Harris to make LARCs easily accessible.
A national doctors group called on the Health Minister to ensure all options are available, as his department develops a new State scheme.
The Southern Task Group on Abortion and Reproductive Topics said failure to introduce an initiative that delivers full choice of easily accessible and affordable contraception as part of Budget 2020 would represent a significant setback to the recent progress in women’s healthcare.
Spokeswoman Dr Liz Barry said: “It is becoming very clear to us that cost is proving a substantial barrier to accessing contraception, leading to the initial crisis pregnancy and inadequate follow-up contraception afterwards.
“We feel it is anachronous that the State is providing free termination of pregnancy care and not free contraception.”
