Birth Control Pills and Hormonal Contraception (DRAFT)

Abstract

This chapter reviews the existing literature on the use of hormonal contraception (HC) and sexual functioning. In the cases where HC has been shown to lead to a decrease in sexual functioning, the chapter presents several hypotheses for the mechanisms that could be responsible for those changes, such as micronutrient depletion and elevations in sex hormone binding globulin with consequent reductions in free testosterone. Throughout this chapter, the authors make a case for clinicians to take care to inform patients of the potential sexual side effects of hormonal contraceptives, bearing in mind that it may be advisable for women who use them to supplement with certain vitamins and minerals. This may be an especially important consideration for women with genetic polymorphisms in methylation. The chapter concludes with a clinical case study.