Marie Claire UK Marie Claire UK
  • Fashion Fashion
      • Fashion
        • View all Fashion
        • Fashion Trends
        • Shopping
        • Watches and Jewellery
        • Fashion News
  • Beauty Beauty
      • Beauty
        • View all Beauty
        • Fragrance
        • Hair
        • Make Up
        • Skincare
        • Nails
        • Marie Claire Beauty Awards
  • Health Health
      • Health
        • View all Health
        • Fitness
        • Nutrition
        • Female Health
        • Wellbeing
  • Life Life
      • Life
        • View all Life
        • Opinions
        • Travel
        • Sustainability
        • Weddings
        • Money & Work
        • Competitions
  • Culture Culture
      • Culture
        • View all Culture
        • TV and Film
        • Celebrity News
        • Books
        • Royal News
  • Vouchers Vouchers
      • Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Mint Velvet
        • Karen Millen
        • H&M
        • nobody's child
        • ASOS
        • ARKET
        • MANGO
      • Designer Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Reiss
        • THE OUTNET
        • SSENSE
        • Mytheresa
        • Liberty London
        • Selfridges
        • Farfetch
      • Accessories
        • View all Vouchers
        • AllSaints
        • Aspinal of London
        • Charles & Keith
        • River Island
        • FitFlop
        • Kate Spade
        • Vagabond
      • Jewellery
        • View all Vouchers
        • Pandora
        • Abbott Lyon
        • Goldsmiths
        • Beaverbrooks
        • Astrid & Miyu
        • Swarovski
        • Angara Jewellery
      • Beauty
        • View all Vouchers
        • Sephora
        • Cult Beauty
        • Space NK
        • Dyson
        • Clarins
        • Look Fantastic
        • Clinique
      • Activewear
        • View all Vouchers
        • Lululemon
        • Gymshark
        • Sweaty Betty
        • Nike
        • adidas
        • New Balance
        • Helly Hansen
  • NEWSLETTER Signup to our newsletter
  • logoCreated with Sketch.
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Women in Sport 2026
    • Marie Claire Masters
    • Spring Summer 2026
    • Nail Trends 2026
    • Best Investment Bags
    • Best Perfumes
    • Digital Issues
    • Women Who Win
    1. Health and Fitness

    The Pill makes sex less satisfying for women

    A new study suggests women taking the contraceptive pill are less attracted to their partners and less sexually satisfied

    By Hannah Thomas
    Published 12 October 2011 In Features

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Male Pill
    Male Pill
    (Image credit: Rex Features)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    A new study suggests women taking the contraceptive pill are less attracted to their partners and less sexually satisfied

    Scientists claim that women taking the contraceptive pill are more likely to choose reliable and caring partners, rather than the more dashing dangerous type often leading to a lack of passion in the bedroom.

    The study led by Craig Roberts from the University of Stirling questioned 2,519 women about their relationships with men with whom they had at least one child. Around half of the women were taking the contraceptive pill when they met their partners.

    'Women who met their partner on the pill had longer relationships - by two years on average - and were less likely to separate,' says Dr Roberts. 'But such women may on average be less satisfied with the sexual aspects of their relationship.'

    The researchers believe that hormones in the Pill steer women away from thrilling macho men and towards the more sensitive partners who will take to fatherhood and protect the family.

    You may like
    • A bowl of supplements How the New Ozempic Add-On Pill Has Sparked a Fascinating Conversation About Muscle Loss, Menopause, and Longevity
    • Emotionally Unavailable Men: Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie in Wuthering Heights Why Are We Still Glamourising Emotionally Unavailable Men?
    • A woman body brushing, taking a supplement, and heading to a workout class in gym city I Asked Leading Women’s Health Experts About the Best Health Investment They’ve Ever Made. Their Answers Surprised Me

    'The implications of our study seem to be that by changing your hormone profile through using the Pill, you might shift your preference away from cads in favour of dads,' says Dr Roberts.

    'Choosing a non-hormonal barrier method of contraception for a few months before getting married might be one way for a woman to reassure herself that she's still attracted to her partner.'

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH NEWS

    Hannah Thomas
    Social Links Navigation
    Read more
    A bowl of supplements
    Nutrition How the New Ozempic Add-On Pill Has Sparked a Fascinating Conversation About Muscle Loss, Menopause, and Longevity
    Emotionally Unavailable Men: Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie in Wuthering Heights
    Relationships Why Are We Still Glamourising Emotionally Unavailable Men?
     
     
    A woman body brushing, taking a supplement, and heading to a workout class in gym city
    Female health I Asked Leading Women’s Health Experts About the Best Health Investment They’ve Ever Made. Their Answers Surprised Me
    Analog Times - Wine and cards game night on luxurious burgundy fabric - TVS
    Money and Work The Gambling Industry's Newest Bet? Women
     
     
    Latest in Health and Fitness
    Freelance Health Writer Ellie-Mae Hammond trying the science-backed art of visualising a better future: Her journals
    Wellbeing I Tried the Science-Backed Art of Imagining a Better Future—What Happened to My Motivation, Confidence and Goals
    A woman working out in the gym and drinking a green juice
    Nutrition GLP-1s Could Change More Than Your Appetite: What We Know About Their Impact on ADHD, Brain Health and Libido
     
     
    A woman stretching, dry brushing, and taking supplements at home
    Wellbeing Meet the AI Wellness Influencers Making Dubious Health Claims—and What Their Boom Means for Women’s Health
    Health freelancer Ash S journaling the everyday delights she experienced when focusing her wellbeing on them for a month
    Wellbeing I Tried Keeping an "Everyday Delights" Journal for a Month—It Changed the Way I See My Life
     
     
    Latest in Features
    Michelle Obama Liffner bag
    Fashion Michelle Obama Just Wore the Sophisticated Bag Brand Every Fashion Insider is Obsessed With
    Poppy Wang
    Fashion 5 Experts Explain the Nuances of the ‘Mandarin Jacket’ Trend
     
     
    Erborian Triple Care BB Milk
    Skincare I Thought My Dull, Lifeless Skin Needed More Actives—This Milky Essence Was Actually the Solution
    Freelance Health Writer Ellie-Mae Hammond trying the science-backed art of visualising a better future: Her journals
    Wellbeing I Tried the Science-Backed Art of Imagining a Better Future—What Happened to My Motivation, Confidence and Goals
     
     
    logoCreated with Sketch.
    • Site Archive
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Terms and conditions
    • Advertise with us
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • About us
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire UK is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.