Posted on 11/20/2014 6:03:30 AM PST by Morgana
The birth control pill distorts a woman’s view of a potential mate, according to a newly released study. Researchers found that women using hormonal contraceptives were more likely to find physically undesirable men attractive while on birth control, potentially leading to a rude awakening down the line when the hormones wear off and they realize they aren’t attracted to their husbands after all.
The study, released Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, followed 48 couples for four years of marriage, and another 70 couples for one year. Researchers found that women who met their husbands-to-be while taking hormonal contraceptives experienced a marked decrease in marital satisfaction upon quitting the drugs – but only if their husband was not above average in his physical appearance.
Those women who married classically attractive, masculine-looking men reported increased satisfaction after quitting contraception.
"Given that women prioritize attractiveness differently when they are on versus off [hormonal contraceptives], I thought that going on or off [the pills] should affect how happy they are with their partner," study leader Michelle Russell, a graduate student in psychology at Florida State University, told Fox News.
Russell pointed to previous studies showing that women who experience natural fertility cycles are attracted to traditionally masculine-looking men while ovulating, possibly because these men are perceived unconsciously by women to have stronger genes than their weaker, more effeminate counterparts.
Because the progesterone and estrogen in hormonal birth control affect women's fertility and prevent ovulation, Russell’s team concluded that contraceptive users have their natural instincts dulled by the drugs, clouding their ability to discriminate between physically attractive and unattractive mates.
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Russell’s study seems to back up previous research indicating that hormonal birth control interferes with women’s judgment when it comes to picking their mates. A 2008 British study showed that hormonal contraceptives dulled women’s olfactory senses, leading them to choose genetically unsuitable mates because they were unable to detect the warning signs given off by pheromones. As a result, such women had an increased risk of miscarriage and difficulty conceiving. If they did conceive, their children were at risk for having weakened immune systems.
Craig Roberts, a lecturer in Evolutionary Psychology and one of the researchers in the British olfactory study, echoed Russell’s concerns about the long-term impact of choosing a spouse while under the influence of hormonal contraceptives. Roberts said he worried such decisions “could ultimately lead to the breakdown of relationships when women stop using the contraceptive pill, as odor perception plays a significant role in maintaining attraction to partners.”
There’s hope for me!
One of life’s mysteries revealed.
Might vote this stupidest study yet. What some people will do to get published!!
How does one quantify “attractiveness”? This study, just from what I see on the surface, looks to be BS.
I had not seen a study like this, but I have seen studies that indicate women on birth control are more likely to be drawn to the little thin metrosexual androgynous twink kind of guy as opposed to the more masculine and bigger guys.
So hormonal birth control is to women what excessive amounts of alcohol is to men.
I think this is a case of Life Site News publishing anything that’s anti birth control, period.
touche!
That study, I have seen, but never this ‘beauty and the beast’ theory, which sounds very subjective.
I think it is simply that with the reduced chance of conception, they are more willing to engage fuglies.
Otherwise they will only chance it with the ‘hotties.’
I never slept with any ugly women, but I’ve woken up with a couple.
correlation vs. causation?
“So hormonal birth control is to women what excessive amounts of alcohol is to men.”
“I’m gonna drink you pretty, you’re gonna drink me rich.”
Song by John Eddie
Symmetry in facial features, from everything I’ve read. Think the opposite of Quasimodo.
As a large man, I am proud to say that my wife was never on birth control when we were dating and never has been since we’ve married.
been there, done that.....
OK.....let’s look at this.
You’re a single woman and decide you want to have some hot, monkey sex but you don’t want any kids. You take birth control pills. So you go out looking for hot, monkey sex, and what do you find? Hot, male monkeys. Wow. Where’s my grant money?
Because in the end, the ugly men are the ones who will settle for ‘sloppy seconds.’
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