The Association Between Progestin Generation in Hormonal Contraceptives and Sociosexuality

Abstract

Hormones are important for regulating women’s sexuality. Many women take hormonal contraceptives (HCs) which add synthetic hormones to women’s endocrine systems and disrupt the links between gonadal hormones and sexuality. Further, there are different types of HCs which may act differently. Whereas past research has combined all women using different types of HCs into a single comparison group, the present research explores how different methods of administration and different progestin generations may differentially affect women’s sociosexuality(SOI). 1024 female participants from 3 samples reported SOI using the revised sociosexuality inventory, HC status, method of administration, length of use, brand, and cycle information in an online survey. Results indicate that compared to women who were not using HCs, women who were using HCs containing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation progestins reported more unrestricted SOI attitudes. However only 2nd and 3rd generation progestin users had more unrestricted SOI attitudes than women not on HCs in the pre-luteal phases of their cycle (when sexual interest is naturally heightened). Lastly, evidence suggests that women return to ovulatory cycles after a year of using the hormonal IUD. We tested for time effects between pill using groups and IUD using groups and found an interaction such that longer duration of use on the IUD was associated with more unrestricted SOl attitudes, while oral contraceptive users did not differ in SOI independent of time using the method. Results highlight the need to understand the psychobiological processes affected by different variations of HCs.