Reduction in genital sexual arousal varies by type of oral contraceptive pill.

This article investigates how different types of oral contraceptive pills (OCPs), categorized by their androgenic properties, affect physiological genital sexual arousal, self-reported vulvovaginal atrophy, and female sexual arousal disorder in women. The study compared 130 women divided into three groups: naturally cycling controls, users of androgenic OCPs, and users of antiandrogenic OCPs, measuring vaginal blood flow, lubrication, and clinical interview outcomes. Findings indicate that women taking antiandrogenic OCPs exhibited significantly reduced vaginal blood flow and lubrication, along with higher rates of vulvovaginal atrophy and female sexual arousal disorder, compared to controls; women on androgenic OCPs showed intermediate effects. The results suggest that the progestin component’s androgenicity in OCPs plays a critical role in female sexual function, and clinicians should consider these physiological effects when prescribing hormonal contraceptives.