The Effects of Hormonal Contraceptives on Female Sexuality: A Review

Journal of Sexual Medicine

Volumn 9, Issue 9, 2012, Pages 2213-2223

  Burrows, Lara J ^a,c   Basha, Maureen ^b   Goldstein, Andrew T ^c  

^a Center for Vulvar and Vaginal Disorders   (United States)

^b GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY   (United States)

^c The Centers for Vulvovaginal Disorders   (United States)

Author keywords

Contraception; Desire; Dyspareunia; Female Sexuality; Libido; Oral Contraceptives

Indexed keywords

DIENOGEST; DROSPIRENONE PLUS ETHINYLESTRADIOL; ETHINYLESTRADIOL; ETHINYLESTRADIOL PLUS NORETHISTERONE ACETATE; ETHINYLESTRADIOL PLUS NORGESTIMATE; ETONOGESTREL; FOLLITROPIN; LUTEINIZING HORMONE; MEDROXYPROGESTERONE ACETATE; MESTRANOL; NORETYNODREL; NORGESTIMATE; ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE AGENT; SEX HORMONE BINDING GLOBULIN;

ACNE; BIRTH CONTROL; CONDOM; DIZZINESS; DRUG EFFICACY; DRUG SAFETY; DRUG WITHDRAWAL; DYSMENORRHEA; DYSPAREUNIA; ENDOMETRIOSIS; FEMALE INFERTILITY; FEMALE SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION; FOLLITROPIN RELEASE; HEART INFARCTION; HIRSUTISM; HORMONAL CONTRACEPTION; HUMAN; INTRAUTERINE CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICE; LIBIDO; LIBIDO DISORDER; LUBRICATION; LUTEINIZING HORMONE RELEASE; MENORRHAGIA; MENSTRUAL IRREGULARITY; NAUSEA; NONHUMAN; OVARY FOLLICLE DEVELOPMENT; OVULATION; OVULATION INHIBITION; PERSONAL APPEARANCE; PREGNANCY; PRIORITY JOURNAL; REVIEW; SELF ESTEEM; SEXUAL SATISFACTION; SEXUALITY; SIDE EFFECT; SPERMATOZOON PENETRATION; THROMBOEMBOLISM; UNWANTED PREGNANCY; WEIGHT GAIN;

EID: 84865742603     PISSN: 17436095     EISSN: 17436109     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02848.x     Document Type: Review

References (78)

1. Grimes DA, Schulz KF. Nonspecific side effects of oral contraceptives: Nocebo or noise? Contraception 2011;83:5-9.
2. Gibbs N. Love, Sex, Freedom and the Paradox of the Pill: A Brief History of Birth Control. Kindle Edition. 2011.
3. William A. Douglas Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479 (1965 ). 1965.
4. Tone A. Devices and desires: A history of contraceptives in America. New York: Hill and Wang; 2001.
5. Watkins ES. On the pill: A social history of oral contraceptives, 1950-1970. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press; 1998.
6. Gynecologists ACoOa. Statement on contraceptive methods. Washington: The College 1998.
7. Rivera R, Yacobson I, Grimes D. The mechanism of action of hormonal contraceptives and intrauterine contraceptive devices. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1999;181(5 Pt 1):1263-9.
8. Fuhrmann U, Frattenmacher R, Slater EP, Fritzemeier KH. The novel progestin drospirenone and its natural counterpart progesterone: Biochemical profile and antiandrogenic potential. Contraception 1996;54:243-51.
9. Panzer C, Wise S, Fantini G, Kang D, Munarriz R, Guay A, Goldstein I. Impact of oral contraceptives on sex hormone-binding globulin and androgen levels: A retrospective study in women with sexual dysfunction. J Sex Med 2006;3:104-13.
10. Devineni D, Skee D, Vaccaro N, Massarella J, Janssens L, LaGuardia KD, Leung AT. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of a transdermal contraceptive patch and an oral contraceptive. J Clin Pharmacol 2007;47:497-509.
11. Sitruk-Ware RL, Menard J, Rad M, Burggraaf J, de Kam ML, Tokay BA, Sivin I, Kluft C. Comparison of the impact of vaginal and oral administration of combined hormonal contraceptives on hepatic proteins sensitive to estrogen. Contraception 2007;75:430-7.
12. White T, Ozel B, Jain JK, Stanczyk FZ. Effects of transdermal and oral contraceptives on estrogen-sensitive hepatic proteins. Contraception 2006;74:293-6.
13. Coenen CM, Thomas CM, Bonn GF, Hollanders JM, Rolland R. Changes in androgens during treatment with four low-dose contraceptives. Contraception 1996;53:171-6.
14. Bancroft J, Sherwin BB, Alexander GM, Davidson DW, Walker A. Oral contraceptives, androgens, and the sexuality of young women: II. The role of androgens. Arch Sex Behav 1991;20:121-35.
15. Shah MB, Hoffstetter S. Contraception and sexuality. Minerva Ginecol 2010;62:331-47.
16. Blanco-Molina A, Monreal M. Venous thromboembolism in women taking hormonal contraceptives. Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther 2010;8:211-5.
17. Cibula D, Gompel A, Mueck AO, La Vecchia C, Hannaford PC, Skouby SO, Zikan M, Dusek L. Hormonal contraception and risk of cancer. Hum Reprod Update 2010;16:631-50.
18. Hannaford PC, Selvaraj S, Elliott AM, Angus V, Iversen L, Lee AJ. Cancer risk among users of oral contraceptives: Cohort data from the Royal College of General Practitioner's Oral Contraception Study. BMJ 2007;335:651.
19. Hannaford PC, Iversen L, Macfarlane TV, Elliott AM, Angus V, Lee AJ. Mortality among contraceptive pill users: Cohort evidence from Royal College of General Practitioners' Oral Contraception Study. BMJ 2010;340:c927.
20. Larsson G, Milsom I, Lindstedt G, Rybo G. The influence of a low-dose combined oral contraceptive on menstrual blood loss and iron status. Contraception 1992;46:327-34.
21. Kohler G, Faustmann TA, Gerlinger C, Seitz C, Mueck AO. A dose-ranging study to determine the efficacy and safety of 1, 2, and 4mg of dienogest daily for endometriosis. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2010;108:21-5.
22. Shifren JL, Avis NE. Surgical menopause: Effects on psychological well-being and sexuality. Menopause 2007;14(3 Pt 2):586-91.
23. Gold R. Rekindling efforts to prevent unplanned pregnancy: A matter of "equity and common sense". Guttmacher Policy Rev 2006;9:2-6.
24. Graham CA, Sanders SA, Milhausen RR, McBride KR. Turning on and turning off: A focus group study of the factors that affect women's sexual arousal. Arch Sex Behav 2004;33:527-38.
25. Harper J. Should dermatologists prescribes hormonal contraceptives for acne? Dermatol Ther 2009;22:452-7.
26. Lucky AW, Henderson TA, Olson WH, Robisch DM, Lebwohl M, Swinyer LJ. Effectiveness of norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol in treating moderate acne vulgaris. J Am Acad Dermatol 1997;37(5 Pt 1):746-54.
27. Redmond GP, Olson WH, Lippman JS, Kafrissen ME, Jones TM, Jorizzo JL. Norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol in the treatment of acne vulgaris: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol 1997;89:615-22.
28. Bancroft J, Sartorius N. The effects of oral contraceptives on well-being and sexuality. Oxf Rev Reprod Biol 1990;12:57-92.
29. McCoy NL, Matyas JR. Oral contraceptives and sexuality in university women. Arch Sex Behav 1996;25:73-90.
30. Sabatini R, Cagiano R. Comparison profiles of cycle control, side effects and sexual satisfaction of three hormonal contraceptives. Contraception 2006;74:220-3.
31. Kennedy TG. Vaginal mucification in the ovariectomized rat in response to 5alpha-pregnane-3, 20-dione, testosterone and 5alpha-androstan-17beta-ol-3-one: Test for progestogenic activity. J Endocrinol 1974;61:293-300.
32. Kennedy TG, Armstrong DT. Induction of vaginal mucification in rats with testosterone and 17beta-hydroxy-5alpha-androstan-3-one. Steroids 1976;27:423-30.
33. Bazin S, Bouchard C, Brisson J, Morin C, Meisels A, Fortier M. Vulvar vestibulitis syndrome: An exploratory case-control study. Obstet Gynecol 1994;83:47-50.
34. Bouchard C, Brisson J, Fortier M, Morin C, Blanchette C. Use of oral contraceptive pills and vulvar vestibulitis: A case-control study. Am J Epidemiol 2002;156:254-61.
35. Greenstein A, Ben-Aroya Z, Fass O, Militscher I, Roslik Y, Chen J, Abramov L. Vulvar vestibulitis syndrome and estrogen dose of oral contraceptive pills. J Sex Med 2007;4:1679-83.
36. Berglund AL, Nigaard L, Rylander E. Vulvar pain, sexual behavior and genital infections in a young population: A pilot study. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2002;81:738-42.
37. Bohm-Starke N, Johannesson U, Hilliges M, Rylander E, Torebjork E. Decreased mechanical pain threshold in the vestibular mucosa of women using oral contraceptives: A contributing factor in vulvar vestibulitis? J Reprod Med 2004;49:888-92.
38. Goldstein A, Burrows L, Goldstein I. Can oral contraceptives cause vestibulodynia? J Sex Med 2009;7:1585-7.
39. Lee M, Morgan M, Rapkin A. Clitoral and vulvar vestibular sensation in women taking 20mcg ethinyl estradiol combined oral contraceptives: A preliminary study. J Sex Med 2011;8:213-8.
40. Edgardh K, Abdelnoor M. Vulvar vestibulitis and risk factors: A population-based case-control study in Oslo. Acta Derm Venereol 2007;87:350-4.
41. Battaglia C, Battaglia B, Mancini F, Busacchi P, Paganotto MC, Morotti E, Venturoli S. Sexual behavior and oral contraception: A pilot study. J Sex Med 2012;9:550-7.
42. Heiman JR, Rupp H, Janssen E, Newhouse SK, Brauer M, Laan E. Sexual desire, sexual arousal and hormonal differences in premenopausal US and Dutch women with and without low sexual desire. Horm Behav 2011;59:772-9.
43. Bachmann G, Oza D. Female androgen insufficiency: The Princeton consensus statement on definition, classification, and assessment. Fertil Steril 2002;77:660-5.
44. Dennerstein L, Burrows G. Oral contraception and sexuality. Med J Aust 1976;1:796-8.
45. Bragonier JR. Influence of oral contraception on sexual response. Med Aspects Hum Sex 1976;10:130, 133-7, 143.
46. Alexander GM, Sherwin BB, Bancroft J, Davidson DW. Testosterone and sexual behavior in oral contraceptive users and nonusers: A prospective study. Horm Behav 1990;24:388-402.
47. Caruso S, Agnello C, Intelisano G, Farina M, Di Mari L, Sparacino L, Cianci A. Prospective study on sexual behavior of women using 30 microg ethinylestradiol and 3mg drospirenone oral contraceptive. Contraception 2005;72:19-23.
48. Skrzypulec V, Drosdzol A. Evaluation of the quality of life and sexual functioning of women using a 30-microg ethinyloestradiol and 3-mg drospirenone combined oral contraceptive. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care 2008;13:49-57.
49. Kelly S, Davies E, Fearns S, McKinnon C, Carter R, Gerlinger C, Smithers A. Effects of oral contraceptives containing ethinylestradiol with either drospirenone or levonorgestrel on various parameters associated with well-being in healthy women: A randomized, single-blind, parallel-group, multicentre study. Clin Drug Investig 2010;30:325-36.
50. Caruso S, Agnello C, Romano M, Cianci S, Lo Presti L, Malandrino C, Cianci A. Preliminary study on the effect of four-phasic estradiol valerate and dienogest (E2V/DNG) oral contraceptive on the quality of sexual life. J Sex Med 2011;8:2841-50.
51. Caruso S, Iraci Sareri M, Agnello C, Romano M, Lo Presti L, Malandrino C, Cianci A. Conventional vs. extended-cycle oral contraceptives on the quality of sexual life: Comparison between two regimens containing 3mg drospirenone and 20 microg ethinyl estradiol. J Sex Med 2011;8:1478-85.
52. Strufaldi R, Pompei LM, Steiner ML, Cunha EP, Ferreira JA, Peixoto S, Fernandes CE. Effects of two combined hormonal contraceptives with the same composition and different doses on female sexual function and plasma androgen levels. Contraception 2010;82:147-54.
53. Fortenberry JD, Hensel DJ. The association of sexual interest and sexual behaviors among adolescent women: A daily diary perspective. Horm Behav 2011;59:739-44.
54. Davis SR, Davison SL, Donath S, Bell RJ. Circulating androgen levels and self-reported sexual function in women. JAMA 2005;294:91-6.
55. McCall K, Meston C. Cues resulting in desire for sexual activity in women. J Sex Med 2006;3:838-52.
56. Cullberg J, Gelli MG, Jonsson CO. Mental and sexual adjustment before and after six months' use of an oral contraceptive. Acta Psychiatr Scand 1969;45:259-76.
57. Herzberg BN, Draper KS, Johnson AL, Nicol GC. Oral contraceptives, depression, and libido. Br Med J 1971;3:495-500.
58. Kane FJ Jr, Daly RJ, Ewing JA, Keeler MH. Mood and behavioural changes with progestational agents. Br J Psychiatry 1967;113:265-8.
59. Huffer V, Levin L, Aronson H. Oral contraceptives: Depression and frigidity. J Nerv Ment Dis 1970;151:35-41.
60. Grounds D, Davies B, Mowbray R. The contraceptive pill, side effects and personality: Report of a controlled double blind trial. Br J Psychiatry 1970;116:169-72.
61. Graham CA, Sherwin BB. The relationship between mood and sexuality in women using an oral contraceptive as a treatment for premenstrual symptoms. Psychoneuroendocrinology 1993;18:273-81.
62. Graham CA, Ramos R, Bancroft J, Maglaya C, Farley TM. The effects of steroidal contraceptives on the well-being and sexuality of women: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-centre study of combined and progestogen-only methods. Contraception 1995;52:363-9.
63. Sanders SA, Graham CA, Bass JL, Bancroft J. A prospective study of the effects of oral contraceptives on sexuality and well-being and their relationship to discontinuation. Contraception 2001;64:51-8.
64. Davison SL, Bell RJ, LaChina M, Holden SL, Davis SR. Sexual function in well women: Stratification by sexual satisfaction, hormone use, and menopause status. J Sex Med 2008;5:1214-22.
65. Wallwiener CW, Wallwiener LM, Seeger H, Mück AO, Bitzer J, Wallwiener M. Prevalence of sexual dysfunction and impact of contraception in female German medical students. J Sex Med 2010;7:2139-48.
66. Wallwiener M, Wallwiener LM, Seeger H, Mueck AO, Zipfel S, Bitzer J, Wallwiener CW. Effects of sex hormones in oral contraceptives on the female sexual function score: A study in German female medical students. Contraception 2009;82:155-9.
67. Sherwin BB, Gelfand MM, Brender W. Androgen enhances sexual motivation in females: A prospective, crossover study of sex steroid administration in the surgical menopause. Psychosom Med 1985;47:339-51.
68. Shifren JL, Braunstein GD, Simon JA, Casson PR, Buster JE, Redmond GP, Burki RE, Ginsburg ES, Rosen RC, Leiblum SR, Caramelli KE, Mazer NA. Transdermal testosterone treatment in women with impaired sexual function after oophorectomy. N Engl J Med 2000;343:682-8.
69. Shifren JL, Davis SR, Moreau M, Waldbaum A, Bouchard C, DeRogatis L, Derzko C, Bearnson P, Kakos N, O'Neill S, Levine S, Wekselman K, Buch A, Rodenberg C, Kroll R. Testosterone patch for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder in naturally menopausal women: Results from the INTIMATE NM1 Study. Menopause 2006;13:770-9.
70. Mohamed AM, El-Sherbiny WS, Mostafa WA. Combined contraceptive ring versus combined oral contraceptive (30-mug ethinylestradiol and 3-mg drospirenone). Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2011;114:145-8.
71. Gracia CR, Sammel MD, Charlesworth S, Lin H, Barnhart KT, Creinin MD. Sexual function in first-time contraceptive ring and contraceptive patch users. Fertil Steril 2010;93:21-8.
72. Guida M, Di Spiezio Sardo A, Bramante S, Sparice S, Acunzo G, Tommaselli GA, Di Carlo C, Pellicano M, Greco E, Nappi C. Effects of two types of hormonal contraception-Oral versus intravaginal-On the sexual life of women and their partners. Hum Reprod 2005;20:1100-6.
73. Nelson AL. Counseling issues and management of side effects for women using depot medroxyprogesterone acetate contraception. J Reprod Med 1996;41(5 Suppl):391-400.
74. Ott MA, Shew ML, Ofner S, Tu W, Fortenberry JD. The influence of hormonal contraception on mood and sexual interest among adolescents. Arch Sex Behav 2008;37:605-13.
75. Schaffir JA, Isley MM, Woodward M. Oral contraceptives vs injectable progestin in their effect on sexual behavior. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2010;203:545 e1-5.
76. Gezginc K, Balci O, Karatayli R, Colakoglu MC. Contraceptive efficacy and side effects of Implanon. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care 2007;12:362-5.
77. Skrzypulec V, Drosdzol A. Evaluation of quality of life and sexual functioning of women using levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine contraceptive system-Mirena. Coll Antropol 2008;32:1059-68.
78. Grady WR, Billy JO, Klepinger DH. Contraceptive method switching in the United States. Perspect Sex Reprod Health 2002;34:135-45.