The Pill can choose your partner for you, women are warned

The study, involving researchers at Stirling University, found that women who were using the oral contraceptive when they met their partner were less sexually satisfied or attracted to him when they stopped taking it.

But these women also tended to be more satisfied with other aspects of their relationship, and so were less likely to split up with their man. The researchers said the findings were because of the contraceptive’s effects on women’s hormone levels.

Writing in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, they proposed that a woman should use a non-hormonal method of contraception, such as condoms, for a few months if she planned to get married, to check she was still attracted to her partner.

Researcher Dr Craig Roberts, from Stirling University, said: “Our results show some positive and negative consequences of using the Pill when a woman meets her partner. Such women may, on average, be less satisfied with the sexual aspects of their relationship, but more so with non-sexual aspects.

“Overall, women who met their partner on the Pill had longer relationships – by two years on average – and were less likely to separate.

“So there is good news and bad news for women who meet while on the Pill. One effect seems to compensate for the other.”

The reason behind the link is thought to be down to the way the Pill alters hormone levels which affects the traits a woman looks for in a man.

Evolution shows that women tend to find men who are genetically dissimilar to them attractive because they are more likely to produce the most healthy babies – part of the subconscious “chemistry” of attraction between men and women.

Women’s preferences change during their reproductive cycle, meaning they are more attracted to these more masculine men during fertile times, but opt for more caring and reliable men during non-fertile periods.

But the hormonal levels of women on the Pill do not change greatly during the month and are closest to those seen at the non-fertile times of the menstrual cycle, meaning women may choose more feminine men. Dr Roberts said: “Women tend to find genetically dissimilar men attractive because resulting babies will more likely be healthy.

“Similarly, women’s preferences subconsciously change over time so that during non-fertile stages of the menstrual cycle they are more attracted to men who appear more caring and reliable – good dads

Dr Roberts, whose study involved more than 2,500 women, suggested that women could test their suitability to any potential husband before getting married. “Choosing a non-hormonal barrier method of contraception for a few months before getting married might be one way for a woman to check or reassure herself that she’s still attracted to her partner,” he said.