Dr. Christiane Northrup on PBS last night made a comment that in her opinion, the pill has greatly reduced the sex drive of most women who take it. I’ve been on the pill virtually my whole post-menopause life. Am I missing out here? Anyone out there who was on the pill for several years then went off? Did you notice any difference? Am I missing out on a glamorous, ultra-hot sex life? I like sex an awful lot as it is, but more of a good thing is never bad. Whadaya say, teeming millions?
I noticed a difference. I have been on the pill since I was 16, that makes it 15 years. I went off for 6-8 months two years ago. Zoom! Up went the old libido! Met my soon-to-be hubby, we decided to get it on, I went back on the pill.
Within a month, I was back to saying “sex? oh ya, I guess so.” Not a good thing.
I’m working on it. We are going to have to try alternative methods. He is thinking about the big snip now. (we don’t want kids)
Hmmm… what kind of alternative methods (besides the snip) are you thinking about? I’m intrigued with the whole idea of going off the pill, if for no other reason than I’ve never felt what’s it like to be off of it. But, I’m scared that I might become pregnant. That would be bad. Anyone out there have suggestions? Is a diaphram all that inconvenient? How 'bout a cervical cap? Anyone?
I definitely noticed a downslide in libido when I started the pill, at least in part due to the fact that it nearly completely stopped my production of natural lubrication. I recently switched to a different pill, though, and things are much better.
Took the pill for about 9 years and yes, I think it reduced my sex drive a bit. I went off the pill at about the same time I gave up sex/men. Didn’t miss either in the least. However, it’s now several years down the line and my libido has suddenly returned big-time. Unfortunately, I’ve just gone back on the pill since I’m seeing someone now (Well!? I’m horny! So sue me!). I’m really hoping the pill doesn’t wipe it out again… :::crossing fingers:::
Disputin
Flagrantly ignorant statements cheerfully
crammed right back down your neck.
I guess I’m the exception to the rule. I have never had a lull in my drive, but did have a lull in my desire for a while a few years back. Still on the pill and my drive is wilder than ever in these past few months.
We are, each of us angels with only one wing,and we can only fly by embracing one another
About 10 years ago, I started on the pill, and there was a definite decrease in sex drive. For me, though, I don’t know if it was the pill alone. I was also taking depakote, to control epileptic seizures. I brought up the fact that my sex drive had vanised to my neurologist, and he told me that the combination of the meds could indeed be the cause.
After my daughter was born three years ago, though, and I got back on the pill, my sex drive went away again. That, however could have been a combination of the pill and new-baby stress.
Changing my sig, because Wally said to, and I really like Wally, and I’ll do anything he says, anytime he says to.
I’m with Cristi. I’ve noticed a little bit of a difference, but honestly, that’s probably due more to the antidepressants than the Pill. Did see a book recently on how to combat the side effects of Paxil recently though…so I might be checking it out. 
Winner, SDMB’s Biggest Chat Addict
“Only two things that’ll soothe my soul - cold beer and remote control.”
Has anyone used both ortho novum and orthotrycyclen? A couple of my friends have reported a decreased libido using ortho novum, and I am curious if the newer pill could do away with this problem.
Hasn’t made a bit of difference either way for me. Except maybe that I have fewer mood swings and feel safer when I’m on the Pill, and that could contribute to expressing more desire.
Excuse me for invading the thread with a stupid guy question, but … is this a typo?
“It’s like banging your head against a wall because it feels so good when you stop.”
Damn! I meant post-puberty.
Puberty, menopause, same thing…
I was on the pill once for a couple of months to help with cysts. I couldn’t stand it. My sex drive went in the toilet and I felt like I was having morning sickness everyday. Then I accidentally skipped one so I had to take two the next day, and I almost croaked from nausea!! haha! So no more pills.
A girl
I have taken Ortho-Novum and Ortho-Tricyclen. The loss of sex drive was more dramatic with the Ortho-Novum, for me, anyway. The Tricyclen didn’t affect my sex drive as much, but it did cause breakthrough bleeding, and not just spotting. I had a period every two weeks. I was unable to determine what was my actual period on what was not. Thanks to those two factors, I now have two children, instead of just the one I had planned on. 
Changing my sig, because Wally said to, and I really like Wally, and I’ll do anything he says, anytime he says to.
I am also using Ortho Novum… I’be used it since I was 16 (about 9 years) and have never noticed a decline in my sex drive. I missed taking 2 pills and wound up pregnant though. After the birth of my 2nd I got on the pill 3 months later. It has been such a pain in the ass. I’ll have my period for about 3 days (no big deal) then 2 weeks later I’ll start bleeding again and will bleed heavy for 7-9 days! I can’t switch my pills because they will only give you 12 cycles per year and I still have 4 packs of these shitty pills left! What is another form of birth control I can use that will be as effective as the pill? (besides condoms, that’s obvious, but I don’t trust them to not break!) Diaphragms have to be put in a beforehand and ruin the spontanaiety (sp?). What else is there??
That John Denver’s full of shit man!
Hi, ladies…
I have a question. I’ve been reading in trashy women’s magazines about “skipping” your period by not taking the inactive pills in your pill prescription. In other words, I’m taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen, so I’d take all the blue active pills, and after taking the last one, I’d skip the green pills and go straight to a new package. In this way, I could avoid having a period for that particular month.
This isn’t something I would want to do all the time, but it does seem like it would have its uses. Have any of you tried this? Is it safe? I get the idea it isn’t an uncommon practice.
D Marie,
Have you tried that? Interesting notion. I think, though that with tri-cyclin it would be even stranger to your cycle because the pills have varying dosages, so things would get out of synch; maybe a single-dosage type of pill would be a more solid test-case scenario (or less disruptive after a few cycles?).
(OP-- yes I think my drive has gone down (with both types of pill) but I’m in grad school so I don’t miss it as much as my SO does, sad but true.)
Don’t forget, by referring to it as “THE pill,” it’s easy to forget that there are several different pills with varying hormone dosages and compositions. If one is giving you problems, consult with your groinocologist about switching to another.
Live a Lush Life
Da Chef
First, there was Ortho-cept. It wasn’t so bad, but the nurse told me that it had an increased risk of leg blood clots. Not wanting those, I switched to Depo-provera.
Depo is much worse, libido-wise. However, Depo is much more convenient!
I’ve been on OrthoTricyclene for 2yrs, I noticed my labido went up not down, probably because I feel safer on the pill…and doubling up with a condom.
I never have spotting unless I take the pill at varying times and not the same time everyday.
Guess I got lucky.
I am a fire whose flames lick and spit at the boundless sky forever desiring wonderous consummation
-me