Non-randomised trial, 1990
Does testosterone affect sexual behavior differently in pill users versus non-users?
Birth control pill users and non-users had similar sexual activity overall. Only non-users showed cycle-related drops in testosterone and matched decreases in sexual desire. Testosterone levels did not predict actual sexual activity in either group.
What they did
18 women taking birth control pills and 13 women not taking pills tracked their daily sexual activity for 1 month. Blood hormone levels were measured at 4 points across their pill or menstrual cycle.
What they found
Non-pill users had higher testosterone throughout their cycle and showed perimenstrual drops in testosterone. Only non-pill users reported decreased sexual desire before menstruation that corresponded to testosterone drops. Both groups had similar frequencies of sexual activity despite testosterone differences.
What it means for you
Birth control pills suppress testosterone and prevent the natural cycle-related changes in desire seen in non-users. However, average testosterone levels were not linked to actual sexual activity in either group. The sample size is small.
18
pill users
13
non-users
4
cycle phases measured
About the study
- Original title
- Testosterone and sexual behavior in oral contraceptive users and nonusers: a prospective study
- Authors
- Alexander GM, Sherwin BB, Bancroft J et al.
- Journal
- Hormones and behavior
- Year
- 1990
- Study design
- Non-randomised trial
- Participants
- 18
- What was tested
- Oral contraceptive use
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/0018-506x(90)90017-r
Topics
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