Is your libido also a lot lower since you started using birth control? Then you will undoubtedly want to know!
Do you feel that your libido has decreased since using birth control? A decreased libido is one of the side effects of contraceptives such as the pill or the hormonal IUD. And that can of course be very annoying… So which contraceptive has the least influence on your libido? We'll tell you!
Read also :'Pilmoe? These are 5 alternatives'
If you choose a contraceptive with hormones, you can expect a change in your sex drive. The neurotransmitters responsible for your mood — including your libido — contain hormone receptors that regulate your hormones as they are released by your brain. The hormones from your birth control can influence this process. Some forms of birth control, such as the combined pill, are also known to decrease testosterone, the hormone that stimulates your sexual desire.
Any form of hormonal contraception – such as the pill, the Nuvaring, the contraceptive injection and the hormonal IUD – can affect your libido. One just has a greater effect on your sexual desires than the other. Some contain fewer hormones or have a less hormonal impact on your regular cycle, so your sex drive does not have to suffer. For example, the mini-pill only contains progestin and therefore may have less influence on your libido. The hormonal IUD also often has less effect on your libido because less hormones are absorbed by your body than when using the pill. For example, an IUD does not suppress your ovulation, so that the hormonal balance in your body is preserved.
Don't want to use a hormonal method at all? Then choose the copper coil, condoms, a diaphragm or spermicides. Just be aware that these methods may be less effective than hormonal contraception.
Of course hormones affect your sexual mood, but a large part of your sex drive is also between your ears. For example, a copper IUD, which often causes cramps and heavier bleeding, can make you less interested in sex. A contraceptive that has been proven to be less effective, such as condoms, can also make you less likely to feel like having sex. In addition, mental problems, such as an old trauma, affect your libido. It is therefore important to also include these factors when choosing a contraceptive.
How do you find out what works best for you? To attempt! If you choose a certain contraceptive and your libido is affected by it, you can always stop using it. In fact, there's a good chance you'll have to try different types of birth control before you find the right match. It can take a few weeks before you no longer suffer from side effects such as a decreased libido and other complaints such as mood swings and headaches, especially if you have been taking the drug for a while. What can also help bring your libido back? Sexual activity! So discuss with your partner what you run into, maybe he can help you find your sex drive again…
Source: Huffpost.com
