BBC story: Oral contraceptives change women's taste in men

[ApostateAbe]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2677697.stm

Summary: Psychologists at two universities studied two groups of women. One group took oral contraceptives, the other didn't. The women who took oral contraceptives showed greater preference to pictures of men with macho features for long-term relationships. Also, Reuters (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=571&ncid=571&e=7&u=/nm/20050216/hl_nm/pill_women_dc) reports that the women on the pill showed greater attraction to healthier-looking men.

I did not find any indication in the news reports that the researchers were disciplined enough to sufficiently randomize the two groups. I am concerned that they may have used women who previously made their own choice about whether or not to take the pill, and those who took the pill are simply more sexually experienced, more promiscuous, or more attuned to their sexuality. Maybe the researchers did foresee that, but it bugs me since I don't know for sure.

[Soubrette]

I did a study regarding female preferences for masculine or or more feminine male faces for a psychology course I did. The study is flawed of course because of lack of budget and experience but I was supposed to find that women more likely to be ovulating would like a masculine face and non ovulating women, the more feminine face.

Almost to a woman, all of my subjects preferred the masculine face and many took a very strong dislike to the more feminine face.

It was fascinating :)

Sou

[Petra]

That explains my attraction to wimps when I was on the pill and to ...ahhh...Ronin...now that I'm off it.


I'm stayin' off the pill. Condoms are the way to go.

[Petra]

I did a study regarding female preferences for masculine or or more feminine male faces for a psychology course I did. The study is flawed of course because of lack of budget and experience but I was supposed to find that women more likely to be ovulating would like a masculine face and non ovulating women, the more feminine face.

Almost to a woman, all of my subjects preferred the masculine face and many took a very strong dislike to the more feminine face.

It was fascinating :)

Sou


I read something about that. Yes, it is fascinating, and I always know when I'm ovulating, 'cos I'm...well....hungry for testosterone.

[Beth]

I did a study regarding female preferences for masculine or or more feminine male faces for a psychology course I did. The study is flawed of course because of lack of budget and experience but I was supposed to find that women more likely to be ovulating would like a masculine face and non ovulating women, the more feminine face.

Almost to a woman, all of my subjects preferred the masculine face and many took a very strong dislike to the more feminine face.

It was fascinating :)

Sou


I read something about that. Yes, it is fascinating, and I always know when I'm ovulating, 'cos I'm...well....hungry for testosterone.I know when I am too and I totally want to avoid testosterone during that time. Getting pregnant is a thought that strikes fear into me. Being on the pill was much nicer and carefree.

[Roland98]

I call complete bullshit (based on the BBC writeup, that is, which may or may not actually reflect the conclusions of the paper, which OF COURSE THE BASTARDS DON"T CITE!!) Bah.

Anyway.

First, did they control for what differences in the women themselves may make some take OC and others not? There's a giant confounder there. For instance, some types of religion forbid contraception. These religious women may also be more drawn to "softer" men, and not attracted to men they view as "rough." So here's a huge factor not mentioned in the BBC story--I don't know if this was taken into account in the research paper or not.

Second,

They found those taking the pill were more likely to choose macho men, and to rate men with more feminine, softer physical features as a turn off.

However, the researchers say it is these men who tend to be more sensitive, and more likely to making trustworthy and faithful husbands.

You have GOT to be kidding me. They think you can tell based solely on physical appearance who's more likely to be "trustworthy" and a "faithful husband?" Again, I call bullshit. Sure, some guys who have the "bad boy" looks are dogs (I note they put Russell Crowe as an example.). But so are some with "sensitive" features. My professional judgement: what a crock.

As women who take the pill cannot become pregnant, they are sub-consciously attracted to sexy, macho men, rather than to men who are most likely to make a sensible long-term mate.

False dichotomy. "Sexy, macho men" can also make a sensible long-term mate.

The study found women on the pill appeared to make equally inappropriate choices when picking a man for a fling.

They were more likely to choose a "caring" man with feminine features.

Conversely, those not on the pill were more likely to choose a macho male for a fling.

Again, I marvel at how they say they're "inappropriate" based solely on physical appearance. Gah.

The last part of the article seems to have no relevance to the first. I certainly won't debate that the Pill affects sexuality. But it's a huge, huge leap to go from that to the conclusions (supposedly) made in the Little et al. study. Why didn't they simply take one group of women and have them define their taste in men on and off the pill? At least that would have eliminated one huge confounding variable.

Gah again. I really hope this study isn't as poorly done as the BBC's write-up suggests it is.

[Barefoot Bree]

Come on, Tara, don't be coy. Tell us how you REALLY feel. :chin:

The last part of the article seems to have no relevance to the first. I certainly won't debate that the Pill affects sexuality. But it's a huge, huge leap to go from that to the conclusions (supposedly) made in the Little et al. study. Why didn't they simply take one group of women and have them define their taste in men on and off the pill? At least that would have eliminated one huge confounding variable.
Precisely. It amazes me that people cannot seem to come up with a simple controlled test to answer a single question.

I know lots of people in the parts of the net that I'm inhabiting these days just LOVE Mythbusters, but the one and only time I tried to watch it, I ended up yelling at the TV for the stupidity of their "tests". They did not prove one derned thing, IMO. (It was the Coke myths episode.)