How does Birth Control Methods Affect Sex Drive and Sexual Desire

Nowadays, women are dependent upon Birth Control Methods to prevent pregnancy. It also comes with benefits like improving your skin or regulating menstrual cycles. Many couples adopt it to enjoy more freedom in their sex lives. The ability to enjoy sex without worrying about an unplanned pregnancy is a great thing, but it can also have a negative impact. 

There are many factors you should consider while choosing a birth control option. Hormonal birth control, in particular, can vary in terms of side effects as you are introducing artificial hormones into your body.

A separate study, done at Washington University School of Medicine and published in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, asked 2,000 women about their interest in sex when starting a contraceptive and six months after taking contraceptives. Nearly one in four women using a vaginal ring, contraceptive implant, or progestin injections reported a lower sex drive at the end of the study than those who used a copper IUD (intrauterine device).

Understanding Hormonal Changes While Using Birth Control Methods

Any hormonal contraceptive can impact one's libido. Choosing a type of hormonal birth control is highly personal, and it can affect a woman's body differently. Therefore, one should monitor the effect of the birth control option to ensure its suitability. Please note that the hormone levels vary in different brands of oral contraceptives.

It is also important that changes in one's libido can result from many external factors and cannot be solely attributed to hormonal changes. 

There are many types of hormonal birth control, including:

1. Oral Contraceptives
2. Contraceptive Ring
3. Birth Control Shot 
4. Birth Control Implant 

What Should One Keep In Mind While Choosing Birth Control Methods?

A person may get affected positively or negatively by using a birth control method. Therefore, before settling on one form of contraception, consider all the types of birth control and their facts. 

One can consult their doctor on the following points to find the option that works best:

1. The levels and sensitivity of circulating hormones.
2. The type and levels of hormones in birth control.
3. The impacts of the birth control method on the body's hormones, i.e., if it's suppressing ovulation.
4. Cultural expectations for sex and sexual pleasure.
5. Thoughts and feelings towards the positive and negative side effects of birth control.
6. The couple's feelings on the risks of engaging in sex without using birth control like unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, etc.

Do All Birth Control Methods Operate In The Same Way?

The working pattern of all the birth control options is not the same. Hormonal IUDs may decrease one's sex drive, but the evidence is not as conclusive as it is with the birth control pill. As compared to contraceptive pills, IUDs do not have estrogen-mimicking hormones. That's why they don't trigger the liver to produce testosterone-binding globulin.

Without birth control, your body naturally ovulates once a month, which is when your sex drive is at its highest. This is purely evolutionary to have a higher sex drive when you're at the most fertile yield, which will produce the best results for procreation. Additionally, apart from containing testosterone-like hormonal IUDs, one can use progestin-based IUDs as a birth control option. 

Do All Birth Control Methods Affect "Hormonal Rhythms"? 

When one chooses any birth control method, the normal hormonal levels are disturbed by reducing the function of hormone receptors. As a result, it lowers the male hormone "testosterone" response.

Not only that, but birth control methods can reduce sexual mood or libido at best and trigger depression at worst. These two things can impact your sex drive. When choosing birth control methods that likely won't affect sex drive, copper IUDs, condoms, and the rhythm method come into play. However, each way comes with a different set of cautions.

The copper IUD has no hormones in it, so clinically, it should not impact sexual desire or libido, but it's not scientifically tested and proved. However, it may be possible that the copper IUD can alter vaginal sensations due to its inflammatory nature. 

Condoms and diaphragms might be the best options. However, Planned Parenthood methods, condoms, and diaphragms are only 80% – 85% effective, respectively.

What to Do If You Lose Sexual Interest?

If your birth control method affects your libido, one can address the situation. First, have a conversation with a gynaecologist or a healthcare provider. Then, the two of you can work together on a plan to restore your sexual interest that might include:

1. Measuring your serum androgen levels and supplementing them, if appropriate.
2. Switching to a different type of birth control pill.
3. Switching from birth control pills to other contraception, such as an IUD.

Choosing the Best Birth Control Method 

Choosing the best-suited type of birth control method to use can be very confusing for couples, as from birth control pills to birth control implants, there are many options. 

It may help you to start by answering a few basic questions:

1. How important do you feel to be protected from STDs (sexually transmitted diseases)? Because not all birth control methods give protection against STDs.
2. How effective should your birth control method be? Because all birth control methods are different from each other.
3. Do convenience and cost matter in choosing a birth control option? 
4. Do you want birth control that enhances your sex life or libido?

What is Natural Family Planning?

All birth control methods are not associated with a device, medication, or procedure. Natural family planning, or fertility awareness, involves timing one's sexual activity. By understanding when a woman is most abundant, a couple can avoid pregnancy. 

A woman is likely to get pregnant if she has unprotected sex during:

• The five days before ovulation, 
• The day of ovulation, and 
• One or two days after ovulation. 

A few different methods are used to predict when one would ovulate. They are: 

• Measuring basal body temperature 
• Monitoring cervical mucus 
• The calendar method 

How effective is Natural Family Planning?

Natural family planning is 76% effective compared to contraceptive birth control methods. The most important reason for choosing natural family planning is that they are inexpensive and drug-free. However, natural family planning also has some drawbacks, such as it doesn't provide STD protection, and its rate of effectiveness is also low compared to contraceptive birth control options.

Conclusion

Choosing a birth control method isn't a lifelong commitment. If you're otherwise happy with your method, then you may consider other things going on in your life, such as stress or your relationship with your partner. If you're new to starting a method, you could consider waiting a few months to see if your body adjusts to the new method or not. However, it's 100% a person's own decision as to when to stop using a birth control method. Find lifestyle tips and Ayurvedic products at HealthyBazar. All the products on-site are genuine, and one can also consult with the best Ayurvedic and Unani doctors.

Also Read: A Guide to Female Infertility: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment