Does Birth Control Change Who You’re Attracted To?

You Should Know: If you’ve spent any time on TikTok or Instagram, you’ve probably come across the story: someone goes on or off hormonal birth control and suddenly feels weirdly turned off by their partner. It’s an intriguing idea (not to mention dramatic), which makes it stick in your mind. But the best research we have paints a very different picture. 

Going Deeper: Older studies lent some credence to this theory, but many were small and asked participants to rate photos of strangers rather than people they had actually dated. Newer research has looked at thousands of women in real relationships and found no sign that starting or stopping birth control changes how someone feels about the person they’re with. Experts say that many things influence attraction, and hormones alone can’t explain the full picture.

Takeaway: Birth control can affect mood or libido for some people, but the idea that it secretly rewires your taste in partners doesn’t line up with the evidence.

Bottom Line: If you want to prevent pregnancy, choose the contraception that works for your body and life. And put aside any worries that it’s secretly guiding your love life in the background.