Millions of sexually active women have used the birth control pill to prevent unwanted pregnancies ever since it became available. Over thirty years later, the pill is the most popular form of contraception on the market. For those who choose this hormone-based method, a large part of the pill’s allure is attributed to the fact that it’s relatively cheap (from a monetary standpoint, but certainly not in terms of the cost to one’s health), effective and easy to use. Current statistics show that over 80% of American women born after 1945 have taken birth control pills at some point in their lives.

Choosing the pill however, does entail accepting the risk that you could experience numerous side-effects, many of which are not as acknowledged or publicized to the extent they should be. One common side-effect reported by users is a profound decrease of sexual drive. Studies show prolonged use of the pill could have a permanent effect on a woman’s libido prompting the need for a female libido booster prematurely.

Other more widely reported side-effects associated with birth control pills include sudden weight gain, depression, increased PMS symptoms, and irritability, anxiety and skin problems. While the need for access to a variety of forms of contraception is unarguable, it is crucial for women to be aware that the pill has its share of disadvantages. The birth control pill not only decreases sexual drive, but also reduces sexual enjoyment and natural lubrication during intercourse – a serious problem that FemPower will address.

Four years ago, a study explaining the long-term side-effects of the birth control pill on a woman’s libido was released and published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. The study discovered that women who used the pill had a noticeable difference in sex drive compared to those who did not. A key take-away of the study is even after discontinuing pill use, the negative affects on libido remained among users who had taken the pill for many years. 

Although we’ve accumulated thirty-plus years of clinical research data on the negative effects of the pill on fertility and reproductive health, oddly the heated debate among the medical and pharma communities continues.