Can Birth Control Affect Your Sex Drive?

Yes, hormonal birth control can affect sex drive in some people, though the effect varies a great deal. Many people notice no change in their libido on hormonal contraception, some find their desire dips and a few even find it improves, often because worry about pregnancy is removed. Where a drop does occur, it is thought to relate to how the hormones can affect testosterone levels and mood. Because everyone responds differently, birth control is worth considering as one possible factor in a change of desire but it is far from a certainty and rarely the only influence.

This guide explains how contraception can affect libido, why responses differ and what to do if you think yours is involved. This guide is general information and not medical advice, so please speak to a doctor about any personal concern. Importantly, never stop taking contraception without medical advice, as this risks unplanned pregnancy.

How Contraception Can Affect Desire

The possible effects and their causes are worth understanding. The table below sets them out.

So the picture is genuinely mixed and personal experience is the best guide. Our guide on Low Sex Drive in Women covers the wider causes of low desire in women.

Why Responses Differ

People respond to hormonal contraception very differently because of individual differences in hormones, body chemistry and sensitivity, as well as the many other things affecting desire at the same time. A dip in libido that appears after starting a method might be due to the contraception but it could equally reflect stress, relationship changes or other factors that happened to coincide. This is why it can be hard to be certain and why keeping the whole picture in mind matters. If you suspect your contraception is affecting your desire, tracking when the change began can help you and your doctor work it out. Our guide on What Affects Your Sex Drive explains the many influences involved.

What to Do If You Are Concerned

If you think your birth control may be lowering your libido, the sensible step is to speak to a doctor, nurse or sexual health clinic rather than simply stopping it. They can review your method, discuss whether it might be involved and suggest alternatives if appropriate, including different hormonal options or non-hormonal methods such as the copper coil or condoms. There is a good range of contraception available, so it is often possible to find one that suits you better. Stopping contraception abruptly risks unplanned pregnancy, so any change should be planned with professional guidance. This guide is general information and not medical advice, so please speak to a doctor about any personal concern. Our guide on When to See a Doctor About Sex Drive explains when to seek help.

Exploring Your Options

If contraception does seem to be affecting your desire, it is reassuring to know how much choice there is. Hormonal methods vary in their type and dose, so switching to a different pill or method sometimes resolves the issue while keeping reliable protection. Non-hormonal options, including the copper coil and condoms, avoid hormonal effects on libido altogether and condoms also protect against infection. The best method balances effective contraception with how it makes you feel and a doctor or sexual health nurse can help you weigh this up. There is rarely any need to choose between good protection and feeling like yourself. Our guide on What Causes a Low Sex Drive covers other causes worth ruling out too.

Browse the complete Sex Drive and Libido Guides library for clear guidance on sex drive.

Keeping It in Perspective

While it is worth being aware that contraception can affect libido, it is equally important not to assume it is the cause without reason. For most people, hormonal contraception is a safe, effective and welcome way to manage fertility and any effect on desire is often small or absent. If a change does coincide with starting a method and troubles you, that is a good reason to talk to a professional and explore options but there is no need to worry pre-emptively. The right method is one that protects you well and feels right for your body and your life. Our guide on What Is a Normal Sex Drive is a reminder that desire naturally varies anyway.

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The Short Answer

Hormonal birth control can affect sex drive in some people, lowering it for some, raising it for others and changing nothing for many. Where desire drops, it may relate to effects on testosterone or mood, though other factors often coincide. If you think your contraception is involved, speak to a doctor about alternatives rather than stopping it, since stopping abruptly risks unplanned pregnancy.