Posted by Terry on March 2, 1999, at 9:31:59
In reply to BirthControl Pills for elevating libido, posted by Ruth on March 1, 1999, at 11:58:39
Ruth -- I don't know about birth control pills increasing libido. The thing about monophasic vs. triphasic pills increasing libido sounds like a marketing ploy by one of the drug companies to me. The pills usually deliver the same total dose of hormone each month whether they're monophasic or triphasic. The triphasic pills are set up to deliver varying doses for three weeks of the cycle, but you're still getting the same (or very similar) amount of hormone for your whole cycle as you'd get with a monophasic pill. Supposedly that's to mimic a woman's own hormone cycle, but it's controversial as to whether that's necessary or beneficial. There are many very low-dose monophasic pills on the market now that are supposed to be very safe and have what are called "good" progestins -- artificial progesterone -- in them. Progestin in older, higher-dose pills was associated with more problems such as weight gain.
I have heard that some physicians are giving women testosterone in low doses to increase libido. I think it was only in pre- or menopausal women, though. You might want to check with your doctor about this. Also, you didn't say whether you're on an antidepressant or not, but most of the SSRIs like Prozac can decrease libido. You might want to try another class of antidepressant or ask for another drug such as BuSpar or Wellbutrin to "augment" the antidepressant to offset the lack of libido. Good luck!
> I read in a magazine over the weekend that there are
> two types of birth control pills--mono-phasic and
> tri-phasic. One gives continuous estrogen and the
> other gives estrogen sporadically. One, I can't
> remember which, was found in studies to increase
> sexual desire and enhanced pleasure. I was interested
> in this as an antidote to the negative sexual side
> effects that the SSRI's can cause. Has anyone else
> heard of this, or better yet, have experience with
> birth control pills enhancing sexual experience? I
> have only had the experience that birth control pills
> NEGATIVELY effect my experience, but perhaps I wasn't
> taking the right type of pill. I alway took the very
> low dose ones b/c I didn't want to gain weight or break
> out. Feedback?
poster:Terry
thread:3317
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990301/msgs/3337.html