Oestrogen Expert: Birth Control Changes Who You Are...Would You Still Love Them If You Came Off It?

From sabotaging sex to axing attraction, new research is showing that the birth control pill can have impacts you never imagined

Dr Sarah Hill is a renowned evolutionary social psychologist whose work focuses on women and health. She is also the author of the book, ‘How the Pill Changes Everything: Your Brain on Birth Control’.

00:00 Intro
02:04 What Is the Mission You Are On?
02:58 Is This Conversation Only for Women?
03:47 Why Does Sarah Hill Do This Work?
05:13 Is There a Problem in Dating When Women Have More Resources?
09:00 Is Sex Trending Down?
10:23 Why Don’t Women Date Broke Men?
12:09 Is This Patriarchy?
14:35 Why Do Men Take More Risks?
16:22 Are Men Better at Business Than Women?
22:46 Why Don’t We Live Like Our Biology Intended?
25:22 Signs of a High-Status Male
27:05 How Women’s Preferences Change During Their Cycle
33:17 High Testosterone and Relationship Status
34:12 Do Men’s Testosterone Levels Plummet After Having a Baby?
35:58 Do Nice Guys Get Laid?
37:08 What Makes Us Attracted to Someone?
41:07 Are Men Less Attracted to Successful Women?
42:40 Jealousy Among the Sexes
47:03 Why Do Women Have Gay Best Friends?
48:58 Why Did Sarah Write Her Book on Birth Control?
53:35 What Does Sarah Wish She Was Told About the Pill?
55:34 How the Pill Changes Your Sexual Desires
01:02:05 If My Partner Is on the Pill, Will She Like Me If She Comes Off?
01:05:47 Would a Man’s Attraction Change If a Woman Is Off the Pill?
01:08:04 Will My Testosterone Be Lower If My Partner Is on Birth Control?
01:11:00 Is There a Population Crash Coming?
01:11:51 Advertisements
01:13:53 What Is a Good Man?
01:17:05 Sex Appetite Across Genders and Why
01:20:24 Advice for Young Men Struggling to Get a Woman
01:23:15 Advice for Daughters on Attracting a Man
01:25:41 Are Men Attracted to Confident Women?
01:28:36 What Are Daddy Issues?
01:30:16 What Role Does a Father Play in a Woman’s Sexual Partner?
01:30:51 What Impact Does the Birth Control Pill Have on Stress?
01:33:35 Depression and Suicide Linked to the Pill
01:35:29 How Did Sarah Feel About Her Daughter’s Decision on Birth Control?
01:40:34 What If Men Had to Take the Pill?
01:44:24 What’s the Most Popular Email Sarah Gets?
01:47:51 Guest’s Last Question

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[TheDiaryOfACEO]

I’ve got a favour to ask! If you enjoy this, please double check that you’ve liked the video and subscribed to the channel! That's a small way you can help us carry on doing this ❤🙏🏾 really appreciate you! x

[bobbekearns]

I really appreciate all the focus on women’s health that you put into your podcast. You have the best guests and have really given so many great perspectives on human health and how woman’s health has affected us all.

[sircdrom]

I'm a man and ofc I click this episode. Stuff like this is interesting and I'm not even primarily driven to "understand my gf" or anything, I just want to understand. I think we should always to do that and not just take interest in a few things that directly impact ourselves. That being said, all of this impacts me one way or another anyway as humanity is both men and women. Good episode! Very interesting!

[larysashemyakina]

Honestly the way he forms Qs is just off limits! Very empathetic and carefully worded questions that get the interviewee to answer so thoroughly. As a listener I’m always so fascinated! Like I couldn’t have asked better, honestly THANK YOU ❤

[kathleenh]

I have endometriosis and had irregular cycles in my late teens/early 20s. I went on the birth control pill for 5 years, and it stabilized my menstrual cycle for the following 25 years. So grateful that I was able to receive this medical care. Thank you for taking on these kinds of topics! I feel seen 💛

[SuzanneU]

My experience with using estrogen birth control is that I was a much happier, more relaxed person with more interest in sex. Freedom from fear of pregnancy was amazing - and so was the regulation of my menstrual cycle and huge reduction in blood loss and pain. Endometriosis made my life a misery without the pill. The pill also reduced migraine attacks to bearable.

There's never a one-size-fits-all.

[TheAttendee]

My mom wouldn't let my sisters go on BC because, and I quote, "It turns you into the kind of person who makes the kind of decisions the regular you would never consider." We all thought she was being silly and overprotective. Well 20 years later and the research keeps proving my mom right.

Thanks, Mom.

[nyamsm]

I have PMDD and birth control quite literally saved my life by stabilizing my hormones. I would have unalived myself a long time ago if not, but I’m glad more research is being done on women in general. Great discussion !

[MagiMystik]

Thank You, I believed this 40 years ago and when I said it to people I was told I didn't know what I was talking about. Finally Validation.

[billiehanne]

I was on the pill from 14y until I was 34. I am 44 now. It took 3 to 4 years to become my normal self again. And I had to mourn the fact that for 20 years I didn’t really know myself. When I was on the pill I became harsher and edgier, without it I am softer, more feminine and it feels so much better!

[Teffi_Club]

Please bring Dr. Sarah back. Women should hear about menopause and new research developments. Thank you!

[Jenncysworld]

I've been off birth control for over 10 years, best decision in my opinion. Never going back!!!

[Tracy-rb]

I became very moody when I was on the pill years ago. When I came off it, I had more energy and was a much happier, calmer person.

[victoriar]

The concept of health in "The 23 Former Doctor Truths" book completely explains this. I wish I read it sooner.

[egl]

I had horrible endometriosis and had to use the pill for 20 years to try and control it. Eventually had a hysterectomy and I am FREE from that crap now. Feel so much better off it

[holchristinecx]

What an incredible episode such a needed conversation. I was also put on the pill at the age of 13 without being told any of the potential side effects. Spent my entire teen years crippled due to anxiety and the most severe depression. Came off all birth control as an adult and the difference was unbelievable, I suddenly felt like the person I was meant to be all along! Can only describe it as feeling a complete inner calm. Would never touch any form of birth control again

[ShyiaRobinson]

I stopped dating a guy because he basically demanded me to get on birth control. I didn’t like that I had to make that decision for my body for him, knowing that I would never get it as a single individual. Intuitively I knew I did not want to sacrifice that for him, but physically it showed up as in me gaining weight And minor stress due to feeling the pressure of that decision. I’m so happy that I chose what’s best for me 🎉

[HeyFromTay]

Just came off taking birth control from the age of 19 until being 25 (now I’m 26) and I felt like I went through a second puberty it was insane. But now (over a year later), I can truly say with 100% certainty, I have never felt more like myself in my whole life being off of it. SO much better. My moods are more stable, I’m not constantly hungry, I have more energy, I sleep better, I have more confidence, higher sex drive, more in touch with my feminine side and overall more happy.

[Mislimdaklepostojim]

I am using a birth control for 20 years and they helped me a lot.

[allthingsreviewed]

I’m 34 I’ve never been on birth control and now I’m grateful 🙏🏾