How the Pill boosts pregnancy love life

BEING pregnant gives women who have used the contraceptive Pill a boost to their love lives, researchers have found.

A hormone rush during gestation intensifies sexual desire, the study said. But the women who were on the Pill when they met their partner enjoyed the biggest benefit.

The study involved 84 pregnant women expecting one child and aged from 19 to 43 years.

Almost half had been using a combined oral contraceptive pill when they met the father of their baby. The rest had used other methods.

They were asked how much they had sexually desired their partner in the past week. Those who had been using the Pill reported desire levels a quarter higher than those who used other contraceptives.

The women were also asked how much they were attracted to men other than their partner. Those who used the Pill were a little less likely to desire someone else.

Lead author Dr Kelly Cobey, of the School of Natural Sciences, Stirling University, said: ‘As a result of hormonal variation, pregnant women experience changes in social perception and partner preferences.’

The study may explain the importance of sex for partner bonding.

The report, published in the journal Archives of Sexual Behaviour, suggested there might be longterm consequences for maintaining relationships: ‘Hormo nal processes across the female life span may influence partner preferences and aspects of relationship functioning including sexual desire.’

Previous research found that women who met their partner on the Pill were less sexually satisfied until the man became a father.