A new study has discovered that the Pill alters the way a woman feels about her partner – and researchers are urging women to come off the contraception in the run-up to marriage to ensure their feelings remain the same.
Scientists from Stirling University found that women who take the contraceptive pill generally stay in a relationship two years longer than those who use natural contraception – but are more likely to stay put even if the ‘spark’ disappears.
To investigate this further, researchers questioned 2,500 women on their contraception and sex lives. They discovered those on hormonal contraceptives were less attracted to their partner and sexually unsatisfied during their relationship than those who didn’t use the Pill.
However, they also discovered that these women were happier with their partner’s financial support and other non-sexual aspects of the relationship.
Researchers believe that relationship stability could be down to women being drawn to men with low levels of testosterone as they tend to be more faithful.
Talking about the results, Dr Craig Roberts from the study, said in a statement: “Our results show some positive and negative consequences of using the pill when a woman meets her partner. Such women may, on average, be less satisfied with the sexual aspects of their relationship, but more so with non-sexual aspects.
“Overall, women who met their partner on the pill had longer relationships - by two years on average - and were less likely to separate. So there is both good news and bad news for women who meet while on the pill. One effect seems to compensate for the other.
"Choosing a non-hormonal barrier method of contraception for a few months before getting married might be one way for a woman to check or reassure herself that she’s still attracted to her partner."
The findings were published in the Proceedings Of The Royal Society B journal.
The study comes after previous research that found three quarters of British women believe there's no such thing as the perfect man and only see their partner as 69% perfect.