Do birth control pills decrease a woman's sex drive?

Because the ovary no longer produces as much androgen as it did prior to starting oral contraceptives, some women do experience a decrease in libido. Also vaginal dryness may occur due to decreased estrogen production.

If you are taking one of the new progestin pills (Ortho cyclen, tricyclen, desogen, etc.), the decreased free-testosterone levels seen with such pills may reduce sex drive. A change to a new progestin pill or a pill with a more-potent androgen effect (a levonorgestrel pill) may be a good idea.

People can react to the same medication very differently. How they react can depend on how much of the drug is metabolized, where it is metabolized, the contents of the stomach, the time of day it is taken, etc. If you are experiencing a decrease in your libido it is important to discuss this with your care provider.