WEGO Health wonders: are birth control pills changing society?

"The birth control pill may have done more than just help liberate women, it may have also changed "the laws of attraction" between the sexes, according to a new study." ~MSNBC: The Pill makes women pick 'dad' over the 'cad'

Two British anthropologists have started looking at how the female hormones progesterone and estrogen are having a "far-reaching" impact on what women of our day and age are looking for in a man. Rather than looking for a short-term, hot and sexy relationship, a woman on a birth control pill is more likely to seek a man who looks like a good long-term prospect. The surge of hormones during ovulation is to "blame" for the change in seeking - when on birth control, your hormone levels are normally kept artificially steady. The data from the study's lead author, Alexandra Alvergne was actually hidden in older studies. It had been "thrown out" because the data skewed other study results. The skewed data was useful for Alvergne's study!

It was clear, from that data, that both men and women's preferences changed depending on how close the woman was to ovulating.
**a woman at the peak of fertility is more likely to be drawn toward a man with a very masculine face
**a woman at the peak of fertility is also more likely to be drawn toward a man with an immune system genetically different than hers (healthier offspring, perhaps?)
**a woman on the downside of her cycle will gravitate toward a more feminine man - seeking the long-term relationship and less testosteronized man

A woman who doesn't take a birth control pill may actually look different during the days leading up to their ovulation, too. She is more attractive to males when she is at her most fertile point.
**a woman's voice may become deeper
**a woman's face takes on a more symmetrical appearance
**a woman is known to dress more provocatively

A very interesting study has been done on the income of lap dancers through their menstrual cycle. "Sure enough, women made the most money when they were most fertile."

Not only do women on a birth control pill, live their life without the natural "ovulation-induced sexiness," they are rarely ever drawn to a "macho" man - always looking for the 'dad,' and not that 'cad.' In most societies, this habit can be positive, though. In our modern society, picking a long-term stick-around type of man is more likely to lead a woman to have at least one more person around to raise a baby.

Unfortunately, because there hasn't been enough research yet, researchers don't know what the long-term impact of the birth control pill will be on the human species. Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist from Rutgers University says "this is a perfect example of why researchers need to look beyond the physical impact of a drug and consider the psychological and behavioral side effects."

What do you think? Have you seen this in your own life?

Single women - do you notice that you're attracted to different types of men throughout your menstrual cycle?

Married women - do you find your husband more or less physically attractive as your body cycles?

Are people in your other women's health communities talking about the effects of birth control pills? Is it worth talking about? How do you think societies might change as we go along living without "ovulation-induced sexiness"?

WEGO Health wonders: are birth control pills changing society?

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