According to the magazine Women's Health, as many as 80 percent of women since 1945 have taken birth control pills. Hormone-based birth control has given women reproductive options. Besides preventing pregnancy, birth control pills also reduce the cramping and length of a woman's menstruation. While birth control pills offer many benefits, side effects do occur, such as weight gain and depression. However, some women also complain of sexual side effects that affect libido, vaginal moistness and sexual enjoyment while using birth control pills.
Lubrication
One of the sexual side effects of birth control pills is decreased lubrication when a woman is aroused. Lubrication is an essential part of sexual intercourse. Changing birth control pills might alleviate this side effect, but using a synthetic lubricant or increased foreplay can help as well.
Androgens
Birth control pills prevent pregnancy by suppressing ovulation with synthetic estrogen and progesterone. However, birth control pills also inhibit the production of androgens, such as testosterone, which have a direct effect on the pleasure experienced during sex. As a result, users of birth control pills experience decreased sexual enjoyment and libido as side effects.
Sex-Hormone Binding Globulin
Besides the inhibition of androgen production, birth control pills also produce SHBG, or sex-hormone binding globulin. Sex-hormone binding globulin also results in a decrease in libido and sexual enjoyment by binding to testosterone, thus preventing efficient use of testosterone by the woman's body. According to a study published by the Journal of Sexual Medicine, the higher the levels of sex-hormone binding globulin are, the lower the libido and sexual desire. In addition, this study revealed that even after discontinuing birth control pills, the increased levels of sex-hormone binding globulin remain in the woman's body.
