When women are considering birth control, it is normal and healthy to have questions. While many fact sheets that accompany contraceptive methods discuss the product at length, including potential side effects, fewer provide detailed data on how the birth control product may impact a patient’s libido. Contraceptive care can have an impact on how a woman feels sexual desire. She should feel confident bringing these issues up with an OB-GYN team she trusts.
Because birth control methods can differ both in type and in how individual women receive them, changes to libido that arise in one person may have no significant impact on another, even at the same dosage. Women who want to take control of their libido should consider how birth control may be working for or against them.
Does Birth Control Harm Your Libido?
In short, birth control does not “harm” the libido. However, it can change over time. Some women report that their sexual desire decreases after beginning contraceptive care. In contrast, others find that it can increase their libido.
For the majority of women, the libido remains the same. Anyone who is concerned about how contraception may impact their sexual wellness should bring this issue to their OB-GYN, who can guide them on other options that may produce less noticeable side effects.
Why Birth Control Impacts Libido
Many mechanisms influence how birth control interacts with a woman’s sexual drive. The primary ones include:
Relationship Changes
For some women, libido may increase following the transition to contraceptive care due to the increased freedom they may enjoy in their relationships. The stress of potential pregnancy decreases, freeing women up to embrace their sexual wellness more wholly.
Gynecological Symptoms
Another reason why libido may increase after going on birth control is due to its hormonal effects (when hormonal contraceptives are the option of choice). These medications are sometimes used for other treatments besides pregnancy prevention, and women may experience relief from existing conditions such as severe bleeding during periods or pain from endometriosis. This, in turn, may make a woman’s sexual experiences more enjoyable, leading to rising libido.
Hormonal Changes
In studies, about 43% of women reported that their libido had decreased after using birth control (compared to only about 12% using non-hormonal methods). For many, this change in sexual desire likely arises from the way hormones shift after starting birth control. The hormonal compounds in many birth control options may influence the testosterone that is freely accessible by the body. With lower available testosterone, some women experienced a reduced drive.
What Can You Do About It?
Women who have experienced an undesirable change in their libido (in either direction) are encouraged to work with their gynecologist to find other options. Sometimes, simply changing the type of the contraception is enough for the body to tolerate it better. Some options for finding a good fit that does not change a woman’s libido include:
Trying multiple compositions – Some birth control options function by introducing both estrogen and progesterone (the combination pill), while others use only progesterone (the mini-pill). For some women, these slight changes in composition can have a significant impact on their libido. It is worth switching to another type as long as it is safe to do so to see if the libido-related side effects change.- Trying new methods – Not all hormonal birth control needs to be taken orally. There are many options, from devices inserted directly into the uterus to implants that go underneath the skin of the arm. Some women report that their libido fluctuations are less severe when they use more localized types, such as IUDs. IUDs work locally, not systemically, and their mechanism of action can help minimize side effects.
- Going non-hormonal – The origin behind libido challenges in many women is how the contraceptive impacts their hormones. This may be a great opportunity to learn more about non-hormonal contraceptive options, such as condoms and the copper IUD. These methods do not rely on hormones to prevent pregnancy; rather, they do so through other mechanisms .
Get Help From an All-Women Gynecology Team
At Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness, our team understands how challenging it can be to find the right birth control option for you. That is why we are always eager to help our patients discover their best fit!
If you are experiencing changes to your libido due to contraceptives, contact us today to schedule an appointment to discuss. We can educate you on alternative options so that you can take charge of your sexual health and live the life you want to live.