13 August 2008

Pill may be responsible for divorce rate?

Now that title may get your attention, let's nuance it a bit: firstly by saying that the 'conclusion' is not stated in this article reporting the research on the pheromonal effects of the contracteptive pill. Contraceptive pill 'can lead women to choose wrong partner' | Science | guardian.co.uk. Secondly, if my extropolation is correct, I don't think it could be claimed that it would be entirely responsible for divorce: clearly, there are many factors, but this could be one and perhaps a strangely significant one.

Here's the skinny: "'The results showed that the preferences of women who began using the contraceptive pill shifted towards men with genetically similar odours,' the University of Liverpool's Dr Craig Roberts, who led the study, said. 'Not only could MHC similarity in couples lead to fertility problems, it could also ultimately lead to the breakdown of relationships when women stop using the contraceptive pill, as odour perception plays a significant role in maintaining attraction to partners.'
Being on the pill simulates a state of pregnancy, which may reverse a woman's reaction to male odours."
This becomes a really intriguing line of thinking...

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