(Aug. 19, 2008) The birth control pill might throw off a woman's sense of whether a man might be a good mate based on how he smells, says a recent study.
It has been known for years that the hormones in the birth control pill radically change a woman's chemistry, but research today shows that a function called major histocompatibility complex, or MHC, directs a woman to favor a mate whose MHC is different from hers. The birth control pill throws off that innate sense and tends to draw her toward men of the same MHC type, the study says.
"Not only could MHC-similarity in couples lead to fertility problems," said lead researcher Stewart Craig Roberts, writing in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, "but it 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." Roberts is an evolutionary psychologist at the University of Newcastle in England. The study was reported in a recent issue of the website Live Science.
Previous studies show that couples who have dissimilar MHC types are more likely to be satisfied with their spouses, and those with the same types are more likely to become attracted to others.
The hormones in the pill tell the woman that she is pregnant, and this affects the MHC, causing her to prefer males who have a similar MHC, thus causing an incompatibility problem.
"The results showed that the preferences of women who began using the contraceptive pill shifted towards men with genetically similar odors," Roberts said.
Women in Berwyn, Cicero, Lyons, Forest Park, La Grange, Stickney, IL and other area communities can learn more about the birth control pill by contacting WomanCare Services. WomanCare can also provide information about abortion, free pregnancy testing and ultrasounds.
Source
“The Pill Makes Women Pick Bad Mates,” LiveScience, Aug. 12, 2008.
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