London, England, Aug 14, 2008 / 23:00 pm
A British study of the contraceptive pill suggests the drug can change the kind of men to whom a woman is drawn by unconsciously making genetically incompatible men more attractive to her. The findings suggest factors caused by the Pill could be behind some fertility problems, miscarriages, and relationship breakdowns.
A research team at the University of Liverpool found that the Pill can alter the type of male scent that women find most attractive, possibly affecting the kind of men they choose as mates, the Times reports. The drug is believed to disrupt an instinctive mechanism that helps bring together people with complementary genes and immune systems.
Couples with a wide range of immune system genes have increased chances of having a healthy child who is more resistant to infection.
Couples with different genes are also reportedly less likely to experience fertility problems or miscarriages.