Researchers at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom have concluded thatcontraceptive methodssuch as the pill, which disrupt women’s natural hormonal cycles, couldinfluence partner choice, both in women and men. The results of the study are published in the journalTrends in Ecology and Evolution.
Women arefertileonly for a short period of themenstrual cycletogether before ovulation. Many scientific studies have determined that the mate preferences of women and men vary greatly depending on the hormonal fluctuations associated with this cycle. In fact, theovulationis associated with an importantchange in physical characteristics, behaviors and female perceptions associated with sexual attraction.
For their part, women who areovulatingshow a preference for men who exhibit dominance and competitiveness, and choosemates genetically different from them. This is significant, as there is evidence that genetic similarity between couples could be linked to infertility. In addition, some experiments reveal that men detect the fertility status of women and prefer women who are ovulating over those who are not.
Birth control pills alter the hormonal fluctuations associated with the menstrual cycle and mimic the more stable hormonal conditions associated with pregnancy. To find out what consequences this has, Alexandra Alvergne and her colleague Virpi Lumma reviewed the latest research and concluded that theanticonceptive pillinterrupts the variation in women’s sexual preferences, so its use could haveimpact on mate choice in humans, and therefore affect reproduction. The authors also speculate that the use of oral contraceptives could influence a woman’s ability to attract men, thus altering her ability to compete for her partner with women with the natural menstrual cycle. ? If we are right, the use of the pill will have implications for both this and future generations ,? they conclude.
