Hormonal Birth Control: Too Many Changes in the Playing Field?

Despite their apparent convenience, birth control pills cause substantial disruptions in the body's natural hormone regulation mechanisms, leading to a host of possible side effects. Are oral contraceptives to blame for one woman's orgasm difficulty and intercourse pain?

Case #: 500

Concern:

Here is my problem. I can only reach orgasm through oral stimulation, and then, I rarely reach orgasm. Other than that, I have never been able to reach an orgasm. Most of the time I have to fake it to please my partner. Also, after about 20 minutes of lovemaking, it becomes painful for whatever reason. Can you explain what my problem is and how I may be able to fix it?

I am taking birth control. Does age also have anything to do with it?

Discussion:

During my early twenties, I found intercourse fatiguing, at best. Sometimes it was even painful. Since sex rarely led to orgasm anyway, I began to lose interest in it. It seemed like more trouble than it was worth. However, after I discontinued my hormonal birth control, all the problems I'd been having virtually disappeared. I later learned that I wasn't the only one-- many women who take birth control pills suffer from a variety of unpleasant side effects, including orgasm difficulty and intercourse pain.

Of course, there are possible causes for intercourse pain and orgasm dysfunction besides birth control pills, including too much stress taking a toll on your libido, too many orgasms, and reduced vaginal lubrication and elasticity due to menopause. Certain sexually transmitted diseases, such as syphilis and gonorrhea, can also cause pain during intercourse. However, taking hormonal contraceptives substantially increases the risks of developing health problems that make sex less fun.

Hormonal Contraception and its Side Effects

Birth control pills and other hormonal contraceptives work by manipulating your reproductive system through continuous changes in hormone ratios. Many introduce high levels of progesterone or estrogen, which tricks the body into simulating pregnancy and halting ovulation.

As with any medication that alters hormone ratios, birth control pills can lead to hormone imbalance. As the liver works overtime to restore normal hormone levels, some women experience depression and other mood disturbances. Estrogen and testosterone, which both play an important role in female orgasm, are heavily affected by birth control pills.

Increases in estrogen can reduce sensitivity in the erectile tissues that enable sexual stimulation and orgasm, and even cause these tissues to shrink. Less sensitivity means less arousal and less likelihood of sustained lubrication, which is important for keeping the friction involved in intercourse from getting painful.

Conversely, not enough estrogen can cause oversensitivity of the clitoris, making it uncomfortable for women to get the stimulation they require to achieve orgasm. Birth control pills also contribute to abnormal vaginal discharge, breast sensitivity, and an increased risk of vaginal damage during sex, which can cause secondary infections after intercourse.

How to Make Sex More Fun

If you are experiencing intercourse pain and having trouble achieving orgasm on birth control pills, you may want to consider switching to a non-hormonal contraception method. If the problems you're having are caused by the pill, it may take many months for your body to return to normal, or you may notice positive changes within a few weeks. As you recover, there are certain medicinal herbs and herbal formulas that can help boost your liver functions and restore back sexual vitality.