New Evidence Emphasizing Sense of Smell in Sexual Attraction

re: New Evidence Emphasizing Sense of Smell in Sexual Attraction

skip smyth — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 04:35:45 GMT

This study was maloderous.

re: New Evidence Emphasizing Sense of Smell in Sexual Attraction

thefarmersdaughter — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 15:28:10 GMT

Due to the birth control pill,i had a TIA at 23. Of course that was when it was quite "new". Thank GOD i was not left with permanent damage,but that was the end of that! I really doubt that the long term affects of birth control pills will ever be truly exposed. My concern is for all the young women/girls who are "given" them without a second thought ,as to the potential risks now or longterm!

re: New Evidence Emphasizing Sense of Smell in Sexual Attraction

StrangerHereMyself — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 15:38:14 GMT

After reading this, I am distraught. I was in a marriage that lasted less than a year. A few months before the wedding I began taking birth control--I never want children--and felt a definite decrease in my attraction for him. I thought it was pre-wedding nerves, stress, etc but it never got better and we separated. I couldn't figure out what happened.

THEN... I stayed on the pill because it made my sometimes up to 8-day, painful, heavy periods much shorter, lighter, and less painful, and I didn't experience such bad mood swings. I met someone else who I find absolutely terrific and I care about very much. But after reading about the dangers, I want to stop taking the pill, but I'm so afraid I will stop feeling attracted to my current partner. What we have is so special in so many ways, I know I will still admire and adore so many things about him, he's intelligent, witty, laid back, easygoing, super sweet, and just fits so well with my sense of humor, interests, etc... but I don't want to lose that fundamental part of our attraction. I'm really in a tight situation and I'm so scared. I'm sure this could go either way... this isn't black and white. For all I know I will feel MORE attracted to him if I stop. Certainly an increase in libido couldn't hurt that. But I'm so afraid of losing what I have now.

I'm so upset though. I just don't know what to do.

re: New Evidence Emphasizing Sense of Smell in Sexual Attraction

Corvidae — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 05:54:24 GMT

The effects of BC pills are going to vary from person to person. And there's alot more to attraction than scent or pheromones. I've been with my boyfriend for several years, both on and off the pill, and we've been happy throughout regardless. And since neither of us is settled enough in our careers, finances, etc. to have children (AND provide for them the best possible upbringing we can) yet, I'm staying on the pill. I don't believe in randomly bringing children into this world if you can't look after them properly. I've seen too many women with gaggles of children (often miserable children) they can't look after to make that mistake.

re: New Evidence Emphasizing Sense of Smell in Sexual Attraction

tickledpink — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 04:32:53 GMT

So a woman can be attracted to a man, at some point start the pill, and then the attraction may die? She could stop the pill and have the original feelings? Interesting.

re: New Evidence Emphasizing Sense of Smell in Sexual Attraction

ryree — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 01:40:06 GMT

I always noticed that out of the few men Ive been attracted to that I always loved how they smelled. They never needed cologne. Especially my husband. Even after a game of basketball when I thought everyone else was smelly I was amazed how good he would still smell to me. I guess the increased perspiration just got the O nerve going full throttle. Also when I see a guy that is good looking to the eyes I always wonder what he smells like. It all makes better sense now.

re: New Evidence Emphasizing Sense of Smell in Sexual Attraction

Duparc — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:05:27 GMT

I am so tempted to say, 'Tell me the old, old story' as I have been aware of this feature for something like 62 years and maybe more (and at 77 I am even more conscious of it) but I disagree about the attraction to a different scent. Parents, especially mothers, find a satisfying odour at the crown of their baby's or infant's head and I would suggest that this is the same odour that each of the parents possess and that they were attracted to each other owing to this compatibilty of smell and that it applies to us all. When the odour of each is repulsive then the partnership is doomed. My experience is contradictory to what the research has revealed and I am not about to be indoctrinated into thinking otherwise. If you wish to prove my point then start becoming aware of body odours and especially the more subtle ones to discover for one's self what is more accurate and also discover another world of sensual pleasure. Even at my present age I still posses a healthy libido but statistically it seems that I should be 'over the hill' but try telling this to my wife whose BO almost intoxicates me and whom I frequently feel like ravishing (that's if I can get her in the right mood)! Sensuality, body odour, attractiveness, and sex, are life's jewels.

re: New Evidence Emphasizing Sense of Smell in Sexual Attraction

saynotoquacks — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 23:17:35 GMT

When I was duped into taking bc pills in my early twenties to "regulate my periods," I had no sex drive at all and therefore no attraction to anyone. And these things are supposed to be "sexually liberating?" Yeah, they sure liberate you from sex!

re: New Evidence Emphasizing Sense of Smell in Sexual Attraction

leejae76 — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:14:54 GMT

B.O.? B. NO! :D

re: New Evidence Emphasizing Sense of Smell in Sexual Attraction

alm260 — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 17:33:54 GMT

Does anyone have suggestions on how to improve sex drive for women? I have extremely low sex drive and surprisingly my husband does too. It's hard to get pregnant when you aren't connecting (if you know what I mean...)

re: New Evidence Emphasizing Sense of Smell in Sexual Attraction

robinsong — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:52:53 GMT

A woman gives off diferent pheromones depending on what part of her menstrual cycle she's in (if she's not pregnant or on "the pill"). When she's fertile (3-5 days prior to ovulation and the day of ovulation), a man can pick up easily on her "attracting" pheromones. Men: have you ever found yourself inexplicably attracted to a woman in your neighborhood you never were attracted to before? She was fertile on that day. That is the explanation.

Now, to married couples: My husband and I came to this conclusion a few years ago, and we don't regret it: Knowing that's how Nature works, why fight Nature by using NFP (Natural Family Planning), when that amounts to denying the way our bodies were designed to work naturally, by denying ourselves what these pheromones are trying to drive us to get most strongly at that time of the month? It's just as un-natural as the pill to try and abstain at that point in time, if you ask me.

re: New Evidence Emphasizing Sense of Smell in Sexual Attraction

Nii — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:37:50 GMT

...and I thought looks, personality, likeness, even education for some people...etc...played a huge role in being attracted to the opposite sex. I guess I "smelled" my wife really well before asking her to our first date 2 years after meeting her and seeing her almost everyday in College...lol. I guess the 2 years prior I was wasnt "smelling her chemical makeup" enough to feel attracted to her??

I'd have guessed the only truth IF ANY at all, would be "love at first sight" when the partners "subconsciously smelled" each other to make it happen.

How about in those cultures those whose marriages were arranged and are still together/attracted to each other? Was that a fluke?

LOLOL...this is just too funny!!

re: New Evidence Emphasizing Sense of Smell in Sexual Attraction

carley44 — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:27:49 GMT

waveontheway's daughter obviously had some sort of hormone imbalance, if she is better after birth control. maybe diet should be looked at? i am in my 50's and i have PROVEN that grocery store fed lot meat caues me to "go crazy" around period time. once i stopped eating it completely and now gt it at a butcher who sells only clean meat without bovine growth hormone, i am fine. no issues. my peri menopause is negligible now. its just another thing from our industrial chemical laced society that messes us up. just a sugggestion maybe she could then get off the pill. also look into food allergies in general. could be the cause of her mood swings. good luck.

re: New Evidence Emphasizing Sense of Smell in Sexual Attraction

robinsong — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:08:21 GMT

On OnlyTruth's comment. The boost in divorce rate that happened in the 70s and after coincided with the huge new popularity of using "the pill." The divorces were much more sought by the women than the men. Still today, something like 75% of divorces are sought by the wives than the husbands. My mother divorced my dad in '82. They always had marriage problems. She had always been on the pill, going off it only briefly to conceive me and my sister. I personally believe all forms of contraceptive are wrong, particularly the pill.

When is Dr. Mercola going to come out with an article exposing the abortifacient properties of the pill and other chemical contraceptives?

re: New Evidence Emphasizing Sense of Smell in Sexual Attraction

robinsong — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:02:46 GMT

I have seen this with myself. I am white. I have ALWAYS been strongly attracted to dark-skinned men. Except for one man who is white (at a temporary job I had), about 7 years ago. During this time, I was on the birth control pill. I no longer am on the pill. I am still attracted much more strongly to dark-skinned men, as opposed to white men.

About the connection others are commenting on between fragrance and attraction: this article specifically says that this pheromone-induced attraction is via a nerve that does NOT register a smell.