DON’T MISS
IamExpat FairIamExpat Job BoardIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Expat Info
Dutch news & articles
Dutch research finds the Pill increases jealousy
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

Dutch research finds the Pill increases jealousy

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

Dutch artist helps NASA create vision for warp-drive spaceshipDutch artist helps NASA create vision for warp-drive spaceship
Marton-E bike: if you love to ride (but hate to pedal)Marton-E bike: if you love to ride (but hate to pedal)
Jyrobike: the easy way to learn to rideJyrobike: the easy way to learn to ride
Dutch scientists achieve quantum teleportation of dataDutch scientists achieve quantum teleportation of data
Dutch scientists discover proof for what killed the dinosaursDutch scientists discover proof for what killed the dinosaurs
Me-Mover: step up for a new way to moveMe-Mover: step up for a new way to move
Lumen: the glow in the dark bicycleLumen: the glow in the dark bicycle
Digital archaeologist in Amsterdam unearths internet historyDigital archaeologist in Amsterdam unearths internet history
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usSitemap
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat FairsWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Aug 29, 2013
Alexandra Gowling
Alexandra is an Australian citizen and an experienced expat, having spent (quite a bit of) time in Asia before coming to the Netherlands a year ago. She enjoys writing, reading and talking to people, occasionally in Dutch.Read more

An evolutionary psychologist at the University of Groningen claims that using hormonal contraceptive pills can significantly affect and intensify feelings of jealously in women.

Kelly Cobey has found that women in stable relationships experience increased levels of jealousy while being on the Pill. She also discovered that male partners tend to find women more attractive when they are not on the Pill.

What does the Pill change?

The Pill is designed to regulate a woman’s natural fertility cycle and, of course, prevent pregnancy. When a woman is not using the Pill, she might experience a change in herpartner preference or behaviour when she is in her fertile window.

As this is suspected to be due to hormone fluctuations, this change is thus suppressed in any woman who is taking oral birth control.

The method

As the researcher could accurately determine fertile and non-fertile times in women, subjects were able to answer questions about how they felt at very specific periods during their cycle. They were then monitored while they were using the Pill.

Their male partners were also asked to monitor their behaviour and relationship dynamic, in order to test for the effects of both the natural cycle and the Pill on their perceptions of their relationship.

Results for women

The study showed that women who are not on the Pill are more jealous mid-cycle. This was found to occur regardless of age or relationship status and in different cultures.

Interestingly, while the women were using the Pill they experienced levels of jealousy comparable with the jealously levels they experienced during the fertile part in their natural cycle.

There was also a correlation found between increased jealousy and the use of oral contraceptives with higher doses of synthetic oestrogen. These pills in particular might affect intimate relationships through jealousy-induced changes in behaviour.

Cobey concluded that any change in Pill use during a relationship is likely to increase the risk of higher levels of jealousy.

Results for men

Several studies have found that men find women more attractive when they are in the fertile part of their cycle, a finding also demonstrated in this study. Furthermore, the study discovered that men find their partners less attractive when they are on the Pill.

She also found that men considered themselves more attractive when their partners are naturally cycling.

Relevance

Cobey said that the birth control pill has proven its value as a social instrument and that because of its benefits, women are prepared to put up with minor negative consequences.

What she wants to see change, however, is the fact that women are rarely briefed by their doctors on the Pill's subtle effects that influence relationships and behaviour.

She wants doctors to pay more attention to these effects and consider them when advising patients about birth control.

Source: University of Groningen

 

By Alexandra Gowling