A RECENT study found that women taking the contraceptive pill are less likely to sniff out their perfect partners.
Women, said the study, have an in-built ability to pick up the scent of a partner who differs genetically. They find themselves more attracted to this partner than to other men, and children who result from this pairing would then be more immune to disease.
Now, since many women take the pill and hence have this smelling ability hampered, they may become saddled with the wrong man, said the study.
Alarmingly, when the woman stops taking the pill, her sense of smell returns to normal. She is then more likely to fall out of love with her partner.
Now, the women's liberation movement will tell you that the pill has revolutionised what it means to be a woman. It means we aren't bound by biology to have children, giving us more freedom to shape our lives and careers.
Studies also show that the pill may reduce risks of ovarian cancer.
On the other hand, naturopaths will tell you the pill can affect your well-being and natural sleep cycle. It can potentially cause a build-up of toxins and it's basically bad for you because it skews your hormones.
Pill users beyond the age of 35 also have higher risks of breast and cervical cancer.
Personally, hearing news that the pill keeps women from sussing out their best potential mates terrified me and convinced me (a non-pill user and naturopathy advocate) that the pill does more evil than good.
Look, I am pro-choice in the matter. Meaning, hey, whatever works for you. But to my mind, to rob a woman of her natural ability to make the right decision about her mate - if the study is true - is just wrong.
There are enough factors to trip people when it comes to finding an ideal partner, so deliberately eliminating one more thing that could help is, to me, self-defeating.
Besides, olfactory senses play a huge part in dating and mating. In my own experience, I had one particular boyfriend who smelled just a little bit funky to me, although other women (like the woman who is now his wife) would probably disagree.
On a biological level, did I know he wasn't right for me? That remains to be proven. But I can say that I don't miss having his sweaty gym clothes lying around.
Then there are those who smell - there's no other word for it - delicious. It's the unique smell that a special someone emits that makes being in love with him that much more enjoyable.
My current relationship is, to me, a plethora of wonderful scents though to another person, some might just sound gross.
I love the clean smell of my boyfriend's showered skin. His hair, when wet, smells pleasantly of wet puppy. And when he sweats, he smells a bit like an old onion bagel.
I revel in all his smells. And I wouldn't be able to tell you exactly why. Is it biology at work? I don't know. But if these things, so difficult to define, help to indicate worthy husband potential, I wouldn't give them up.
Not just because my children would be better off, but because enjoying someone's smell is such a huge part of being in love.
If being on the pill takes even a little bit of that away, then I say it's time to go back to other methods of contraception that don't mess with that experience.
