Contraceptive pill has made women less attracted to masculine men... and more ... - The Diigo Meta page

• 08 Oct 09
  

  Erudite

  evolution sexuality fertility thePill sexualselection attraction

  • Scientists have long known that a woman's taste in men changes over her menstrual cycle.
    

    During the few days each month when women are fertile - around
    the time of ovulation - they tend to prefer masculine features and men
    who are more assertive.

    
    

    On these fertile days, women are also more attracted to men
    who are 'genetically dissimilar', Dr Alvergne said. Picking a partner
    whose genetic make-up is unlike their own increases the chances of
    having a healthy child.

  • On days when women are not fertile, their tastes swing towards
    more feminine, boyish faces and more caring personalities, researchers
    have shown.

    
    

    However, if women are taking the Pill they no longer have fertile days.
    

    
    

    That means they no longer experience the hormonal changes that
    make them more attracted to masculine men and those with dissimilar
    genetic make-up.

  • 2 more annotations...

  • • Past studies have shown that men find women more attractive
      around the time of ovulation, possibly because women have evolved
      instinctive ways, by their natural scent or their behaviour, of
      alerting men that they are fertile. One study showed that lap dancers
      get bigger tips at the time of the month when they are most fertile.

      
      

      Dr Alvergne said the use of the Pill could influence a woman's ability to attract a mate by reducing her attractiveness to men.

    • 'The ultimate
      outstanding evolutionary question concerns whether the use of oral
      contraceptives when making mating decisions can have long-term
      consequences on the ability of couples to reproduce.' An increasing
      number of studies suggest that the Pill is likely to have an impact on
      human mating decisions and subsequent reproduction.

      
      

      'If this is the case, Pill use will have implications for both
      current and future generations, and we hope that our review will
      stimulate further research on this question,' said Dr Lumma.

• 

  Kieran Lamb

  "It ushered in the 1960s sexual revolution and gave women control over their own fertility.
  
  But the Pill may also have changed women's taste in men, according to a study. "

  Health News Contraception UHN Daily Mail Psychology Womens Health

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