less sex drive on the pill

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-22-2005
less sex drive on the pill
4
Tue, 02-22-2005 - 3:01pm
my girlfriend went on the pill a few months ago because of other problems (with me). This enabled us to have sex, but she now no longer wants it as much. I feel quite inadequate. Are there any alternatives? And how do I approach her about this? HELP!
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-23-2004
Tue, 02-22-2005 - 4:38pm
Are you sure it's from the BC pills or are there other problems.

bounxh0a-1.gif picture by dillbyrd

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-08-2003
Tue, 02-22-2005 - 7:06pm

Over 20 years ago I had the same problem and it took trying three different birth control pills before I found one that didn't do that to me. She should let her physician know that she is experiencing a lower sex drive and have him/her switch her pills. If he/she resists (my physician did) tell her to be insistant with the physician. I went off the birth control pills and used a non-hormonal birth control and my sex drive returned, so I was convinced that it was the pills. Eventually I found one that worked without lowering my sex drive and I've been on BCP for over 20 years.

It could be something other than the BCPs but it could be them as well. If it is the BCP that is an easy thing to fix. She either finds one that doesn't do this to her or she can switch to a different form of birth control such as IUD which can be non-hormonal. If she is less than 150 pounds, she might try ortho tricyclen LO. It is a lower dose but highly effective BCP. However it isn't as effective for women over 150 pounds.

If she switches the pills or goes off of them and her sex drive doesn't return, then she will know that it is something else and not the pills.

Good luck!

Robin

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-27-2004
Wed, 02-23-2005 - 9:55am

The "pill" has been known to lower the sex drive, but there are other things that can also lower it.....like unresolved problems.

She started the pill because of problems with you. What have you done about the "problems"? If they're still there, then the pill has nothing to do with it.

The way you approach her about it is called communication. When there are problems in a relationship, pills don't fix the problems, discussing it, and working it out fixes them.

Sexual problems are more often than not a symptom of other problems outside the bedroom.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-01-2005
Thu, 03-03-2005 - 4:18pm
I've been on the pill for over a year, and in that time, I've actually had a higher sex drive than I used to. I think it's because I feel very comfortable w/ my SO. You might want to talk to her and ask her her opinion about sex. Ask what she likes and doesn't like. Don't tell her that you want more sex, because that might make her want it less because she'll wonder if you're using her. Just talk to her without making her feel pressured/bad. If that doesn't work, tell her to talk to her doctor.