How The Pill Affects Relationships

In this episode, I sat down with Dr. Sarah Hill, evolutionary psychologist, researcher, and author of The Period Brain. Dr. Hill is an expert in how hormones shape female psychology, attraction, relationships, health, and behavior. Dr. Hill broke down the science behind hormonal birth control and mate selection and we discussed what happens when women meet partners on birth control and later come off it, and why those shifts can feel confusing, destabilizing, or even identity-altering. We also explored The Period Brain and how attraction changes across the menstrual cycle and we talked about stress, safety, relationships, and identity—why feeling safe is biologically essential for women and how chronic stress can suppress ovulation even when periods appear “normal.” This is an episode for every woman and every man interested in actually understanding women.