The Pill and Libido Part 1

Recent published research notes that 40 percent of women experience reduced sex drive while taking the birth control Pill. Why? A key component in female sexual desire is testosterone, a hormone many think of as being male. But women have it too, and every month when ovulation occurs, their ovaries actually make excess testosterone. Biologically, thats because women are fertile when theyre ovulating, and the body secretes testosterone to encourage reproductive behavior! But, women taking hormonal contraceptives dont have active ovaries, so the testosterone normally made there - 50 percent of the bodys production - isnt secreted. A. A womans B. adrenal glands make the other half of her testosterone, and they, too, are affected by the Pill. Why? The Pill doesnt just reduce testosterone production - it also encourages the liver to make a protein called SHGB, which hiders its effect. Thats because, when someone pops the Pill, the liver erroneously assumes the body has produced too much estrogen and fights back with the SHGB. But what about women who dont experience decreased libido on the Pill? Well check out their story in our next video.