title: Partner choice, relationship satisfaction, and oral contraception: the congruency hypothesis.
abstract: Hormonal fluctuation across the menstrual cycle explains temporal variation in women's judgment of the attractiveness of members of the opposite sex. Use of hormonal contraceptives could therefore influence both initial partner choice and, if contraceptive use subsequently changes, intrapair dynamics. Associations between hormonal contraceptive use and relationship satisfaction may thus be best understood by considering whether current use is congruent with use when relationships formed, rather than by considering current use alone. In the study reported here, we tested this congruency hypothesis in a survey of 365 couples. Controlling for potential confounds (including relationship duration, age, parenthood, and income), we found that congruency in current and previous hormonal contraceptive use, but not current use alone, predicted women's sexual satisfaction with their partners. Congruency was not associated with women's nonsexual satisfaction or with the satisfaction of their male partners. Our results provide empirical support for the congruency hypothesis and suggest that women's sexual satisfaction is influenced by changes in partner preference associated with change in hormonal contraceptive use.
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling craig.roberts@stir.ac.uk.
authors.forename: S Craig
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling.
authors.forename: Anthony C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Little
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling Department of Psychology, Northumbria University.
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Burriss
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling.
authors.forename: Kelly D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Cobey
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Humanities, Charles University.
authors.forename: Kateřina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Klapilová
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, Charles University.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Havlíček
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow.
authors.forename: Benedict C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: DeBruine
authors.affiliation: Institute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle University.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petrie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D057228:Masculinity; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: MHC; hormonal contraception; major histocompatibility complex; masculinity; mate choice; menstrual cycle; romantic relationships; sexual desire