Does the Pill Alter Mate Choice (Episode 460)

Full Transcript: Episode 460

Lisa Hendrickson-Jack
Welcome to the Fertility Friday Podcast, your source for information about the Fertility Awareness Method and all things fertility. I’m your host, Lisa Hendrickson-Jack. I’m the author of The Fifth Vital Sign and the Fertility Awareness Mastery Charting Workbook. I’m a certified fertility awareness educator and holistic reproductive health practitioner with over 20 years of experience teaching women to connect to their fifth vital sign through menstrual cycle charting, balancing hormone health, and optimizing the menstrual cycle without hormones.

I have been consistently outspoken about hormonal birth control over the past two decades and its impact on fertility and overall health because you have the right to know how your body works and how artificial hormones disrupt that natural process. I teach women’s health professionals how to utilize the menstrual cycle as a vital sign in their practices, and I host live coaching programs to help you achieve optimal fertility and health. It’s important to have healthy menstrual cycles regardless of whether or not you want to have babies.

I’m also a wife and mother of two beautiful boys and a brand new baby girl. This podcast is designed to empower you to take full control of your cycles, your fertility, and your overall health. I’m so excited that you’re here with me today.

Today I’m sharing a brand new episode in my FAM Research Series. I’m tackling a very interesting and somewhat controversial topic. The research study I’m reviewing today looks at the question of whether or not hormonal contraceptives, specifically the contraceptive pill, alter our choice of partner.

Before getting into the study itself, I want to spend some time talking about this phenomenon. Many of you may have heard about this idea before, whether in passing or through conversations with friends. The basic concept is that the pill may change how you perceive your partner’s scent.

Whether we are consciously aware of it or not, all of us have a scent. This relates to pheromones and other processes happening below conscious awareness that influence how we choose partners and how attractive someone may be to us based on how they smell. This topic has been explored in depth within the field of environmental and evolutionary biology.

The central question is whether being on the pill when you meet a partner could influence attraction, and whether coming off the pill later could change how you perceive that person. The answer suggested by research is that this is possible, which can be unsettling for people.

When researching for The Fifth Vital Sign, I encountered a large body of literature examining mate choice, hormonal influence, and genetic compatibility. One area of focus is the major histocompatibility complex, or MHC, which refers to genetic similarity or dissimilarity between partners. Research suggests that humans may be naturally inclined to prefer genetically dissimilar partners, often without conscious awareness, and that scent plays a role in this process.

Researchers have also examined mate preference across the menstrual cycle. Hormones fluctuate across the cycle, with estrogen peaking in the fertile window. Studies have found that during this time, sexual desire may increase and partner preferences may shift. Some research suggests women may be more likely to prefer genetically dissimilar or more masculine partners during the fertile phase.

There are also studies examining male perception, showing that men may find women more attractive during ovulation. This includes research on voice perception and other subtle cues. One well-known study observed that women who were naturally cycling earned more tips during their fertile window compared to women on hormonal contraceptives.

This area of research is extensive and not limited to a single study. Many studies examine natural hormonal fluctuations across the menstrual cycle, while others specifically investigate how hormonal contraceptives may alter these patterns by suppressing ovulation and flattening hormonal variation.

The review study discussed in this episode examines existing research and asks what conclusions can be drawn. One well-known research approach includes the “T-shirt studies,” where women smell shirts worn by men and rate attractiveness. These studies often control for genetic similarity and examine differences between naturally cycling women and women using hormonal contraceptives.

Findings suggest that naturally cycling women may prefer genetically dissimilar men during their fertile window, while women on the pill may show a preference for genetically similar partners. Other studies explore facial features, finding that women on the pill may be less likely to prefer strongly masculine traits.

The review concludes that there is emerging evidence suggesting that hormonal contraceptives may disrupt cyclical variation in mate preference. This could affect both how women choose partners and how attractive they appear to potential partners.

Importantly, this research does not suggest definitive outcomes or that anyone has chosen the wrong partner. However, it does acknowledge that some women report changes in attraction after discontinuing the pill, particularly if they met their partner while using hormonal contraceptives.

What the research clearly shows is that hormonal contraceptives alter the natural hormonal state by suppressing ovulation. Given that hormones influence many systems in the body, it stands to reason that there could be effects beyond pregnancy prevention.

Culturally, hormonal contraceptives are often treated casually, to the point where many women do not even consider them medications. This normalization can limit conversations about broader effects and informed consent.

Studies like this highlight the importance of open dialogue. The goal is not to scare anyone, but to acknowledge what the research shows and allow space for informed discussion. From an evolutionary biology perspective, researchers speculate about potential implications for partner selection and reproductive outcomes, but current evidence is not sufficient to draw firm conclusions.

What can be said is that a substantial portion of research on cycling women demonstrates shifts in attraction across the menstrual cycle. This suggests that suppressing those cycles may influence partner preferences for some individuals.

Research studies are conducted by humans and include interpretation and bias. Claims that the pill mimics pregnancy are biologically inaccurate when examining endogenous hormone levels. On the pill, natural estrogen and progesterone levels are low, a state more comparable to menopause than pregnancy.

To conclude, the evidence does not provide definitive answers, but it does suggest that hormonal contraceptives may influence attraction and mate choice in some cases. This topic deserves continued research and thoughtful discussion.

Until next time, be well and happy charting.