Pheromones are chemicals that animals (humans are also animals) excrete through the skin, hair, saliva and all body secretions. They become airborne, and carry signals to others around us. They are (mostly) not ‘smelled,’ rather they are detected through the nasal tissue, then go on to influence and affect our behaviour through the part of our brain called the amygdala. And as many scientific studies show they DO affect our behaviour. I suspect many people CAN smell them (other animals certainly can.) but we mostly don’t trust our sense of smell. It’s a sense that is often underdeveloped, undervalued and under rated.

Hormonal birth control has side effects that most women don’t know about and they have more far-reaching consequences than slight weight gain, tearfulness and possible mild depression. Specifically, you might NOT meet the love of your life, your ‘soul mate’ or even hook up with that yummy guy you see each morning in your favourite coffee shop. Many scientific studies have shown that taking the pill can seriously mess with your love life.

Confusing the bodies hormone production and balance by introducing synthetic hormones to your systems the pill can shift our desires and perceptions on a fundamental biochemical level. Because hormones impact how we perceive other people and how they perceive us, our interactions with everyone—and specifically romantic/sexual partners— will be quite significantly affected. 

Studies show that if you are on the pill, your body is confused and you are more likely to be attracted to men who smell like you (possibly because the pill simulates pregnancy and pregnant women are drawn toward nurturing and protective biological relatives). In this way, the pill acts like an anti-cupid, steering you away from your ideal romantic match. So you become less attractive to others. Pheromones act as a sort of ‘love potion’. The way we sense DNA difference of a potential successful match is through smelling their pheromones.

When our hormones are balanced and healthy and when we’re on the hunt for a partner to mate with and be a father for our children (every month the biochemical hunt proceeds), we are programmed genetically to be attracted to men to whom we are genetically different, Because this lowers the chance of miscarriage and increases the likelihood of having a healthy baby. It also, in days gone by, increases our likelihood or chances of survival. ‘Survival of the fittest’ and all that. The more diverse our DNA is the more our children will be versatile, flexible, stronger and more likely to succeed at life both physically and mentally. When we are healthy and functioning at optimal levels and our hormones are balanced we also have better and more satisfying sex.

Using hormonal birth control could also suppress your sex drive. A woman’s sexual drive/desire usually peaks around ovulation, but the pill prevents this from happening. Plus our testosterone reserves, get depleted, which, along with balanced hormones, is a significant key to your sexual desire and enjoyment. 

Taking the pill might make your attraction to your current partner change or disappear altogether! If you met your partner when you were using hormonal birth control then you may then find them unattractive after you stop taking hormonal birth control.

It can lower your mood and decrease your chances of getting in the mood. Most women know by now that the pill has been linked to depression and anxiety, (and even says so on the box) particularly in women who have a history of mental health issues. Our hormonal systems are connected to how we deal with stress, our cortisol levels, our adrenal glands which are linked to our liver and metabolism etc etc. When our hormonal systems are out of balance it can seriously affect other areas/systems in our bodies and over long periods of time can possibly make us ill.

Research has linked oral contraceptives with female sexual dysfunction, meaning less frequent sexual activity, difficulty with adequate lubrication, arousal, pleasure, and orgasm which of course means less desire to have sex. And round and round we go. (not to mention our partners possible frustration!)

So, do we need to have more information and awareness of what we are choosing and how our bodies react or rather, are NOT reacting normally. More power to women. If you are using the contraceptive pill and are masking your natural hormonal smell or have blocked it altogether are you going to meet your best match?