6 things her body is telling you

The female body. It's a work of art and well deserves to be admired, while clothed or naked.

Just look for these subtle signs to understand what she's thinking and feeling.

1. Pupils
If she's feeling stimulated by you (not just sexually), her pupils will dilate. That's because her body is programmed to want to see more of whatever's exciting her, so her brain tells her irises to let in more light.

Bonus: As the inkiness spreads, she'll start looking better to you, too. Research shows that men rate women with larger pupils as more attractive. Time to make your move. (For more hot secrets from the fairer sex, discover What Every Woman Wants.)

2. Eyelashes
Hold her gaze for a minute. If she's blinking more than normal (which is about 15 times a minute), there's a good chance she's on the Pill; women on birth control blink 32 percent more than those who aren't. Aside from the obvious, what does that mean for you? Put on your toughest, most confident mug as you look at her. Because of the shift in hormone levels, research says, women on the Pill are more attracted to men with rugged features, such as strong, wide jaws.

3. Brain
She's matching you drink for drink, you're starting to feel like reenacting Animal House, but she seems like her same old self. What's the deal? Men and women get different kinds of buzzes: Men lose inhibitions, while women become sedated. If you're looking to get her into the party spirit, don't feed her more alcohol. Instead, feed the jukebox. Research shows that mid- to fast-tempo music will make her more social. (Men are from Mars, and women are . . . also from Mars, according to these 3 Myths about Women You Shouldn't Believe.)

4. Belly
Want to know if it's a good or bad time to broach a tricky conversation? You can tell if she's suitably relaxed by her breathing pattern. If her stomach pulls in with each inhalation, she's taking shallow breaths from her chest, which indicates stress. Keep your distance. If her abdomen and chest expand with each inhalation, she's taking deeper, more rhythmic breaths—a sign of relaxation. Go for it. (Click here for more secrets on How Nice Guys Can Impress Women.)

5. Fingernails
Pay attention to her fingers; among the surest signs of anxiety or depression in a woman are body-focused repetitive behaviors, such as skin picking and nail biting. If you see her doing that, don't nag her to stop; that can send her deeper into a spiral. Instead, gently pull her hand away, give it a squeeze, and hold on to it. Feel the tension ooze right out.

6. Hands
If it seems as if she always has cold hands, that's because she does—almost three degrees colder than yours, possibly more if she's stressed. Women's bodies, even more than men's, are programmed to keep their cores warmer than their extremities. So to warm her hands up, don't massage them; wrap your arm around her waist. This will warm her core and allow blood to flow back into her hands.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/03/31/6-things-her-body-is-telling/#ixzz2P9AEWMVV

Women's Health Is DHEA the Next Wonder Drug for Menopause?

Many of the currently menopausal women in the United States came of age during the “Swinging Sixties.”  Spurred on by very reliable contraceptives, the “sexual revolution,” and women’s right to have a satisfying sexual life, these women are less likely than their grandmothers to go off quietly into sexual retirement. Aging men with erectile problems have had several prescriptions drugs to enhance their sexual experience. Women have no FDA-approved drug to improve their sexual outcomes.  Here at Web MD, we recently posted a news story about the use of an over-the-counter hormone called DHEA, which was said to “ease menopausal symptoms and improve women’s sex lives.” When that same release showed up on the start page of my computer it seemed time to investigate these claims.

Let’s try and answer these important questions:

• Does DHEA improve sexual function?
• Is over-the-counter DHEA safe?
• What is the future for DHEA?

Does DHEA improve sexual function?

According to the just-published report from Genazzani and colleagues in Italy, it does. They state that a daily dose of a 10 mg DHEA pill worked as well as two different types of standard hormone therapy (tibolone 2.5 mg vs estradiol 1mg with dihydrogesterone 5 mg) in improving sexual function and frequency of intercourse compared to women who received nonhormonal treatment.

However, there have been other studies which do not suggest that DHEA works any better than a placebo pill. In one year-long study, 93 women with low desire were randomly assigned to take a sugar pill or DHEA 50 mg (five times more DHEA than the current study). Of the 85 women who were evaluated on satisfying sexual events and the Sabbatsberg Sexual Self-Rating Scale, the DHEA did not work any better than the sugar pill.

In an excellent review of DHEA use in postmenopausal women, the authors evaluated, then summarized the results of key studies up through 2010. They acknowledged that studies which did a single blood test for DHEA levels and a one-time questionnaire about sexual function seemed to suggest that low libido was linked to lower DHEA. However, when DHEA or a placebo/sugar pill was randomly given to study women, there was no significant benefit for DHEA pills.

Let’s say you are a postmenopausal woman and you decide to try DHEA. You have read that women’s natural DHEA levels peak while in our twenties—and most of us do not complain about libido in our twenties. So the next question would be: are DHEA pills safe?

Is over-the-counter DHEA safe?

Unlike in Europe, DHEA is available in the U.S. without a prescription. It is an active hormone, naturally produced by our adrenal glands. Our body will convert the DHEA to both estrogens (female hormones) and androgens (male hormones). I mention this as a breast cancer survivor once asked if she could take DHEA. I quoted a study by Genazzani (yes, the same scientist with the new study) published nine years ago in which postmenopausal women were given DHEA 25 mg pills for a year. Their blood levels of estradiol were 90 picograms. This is a level found in young, ovulating women.

Surprisingly, no undue stimulation of the lining of the uterus has been found in studies where menopausal women were given DHEA 25 mg or 50 mg. However, the women were followed for only 12 months. So we still do not know about long-term safety at such doses. If I had a patient using long-term DHEA I would want to be sure that their uterine lining was not being stimulated by newly created estrogen. This could be done with an ultrasound measurement of lining thickness.

What is the future for DHEA?

As noted above, DHEA can produce estrogen effects in the body. Estrogen has a very well demonstrated positive effect on sexual function. It can improve lubrication and quality of vaginal tissues. After menopause, when blood estrogen/estradiol levels drop below 20 picograms or less, vaginal dryness (“vaginal atrophy”) can make intercourse painful. In a “twenty- something” vaginal tissues will be 20-30 cells thick. After menopause when estrogen levels are low, vaginal tissues may be only 6-8 cells thick.

Currently, low-dose DHEA is undergoing testing to be an FDA-approved treatment for vaginal atrophy. Among the vaginal doses studied, blood levels of estrogen and androgens remained in the normal, postmenopausal range. Interestingly, the use of the 1% vaginal DHEA product seemed to yield not just improvements in lubrication/arousal/vaginal dryness, but also a slight stated improvement in orgasm.

The evidence continues to be mixed as to whether DHEA is the long awaited “wonder drug” for menopause. There can be so many variables involved in low libido, it is hard to believe that a single treatment will work uniformly well for all women. If readers are considering using DHEA pills  I would strongly urge you to let your healthcare provider know. It is not FDA approved, so the jury is still out.

Does a Better Relationship Mean Better Health?

The perks of marriage and long-term

Conventional wisdom holds that married people live longer and are healthier than singles. And research suggests that may be true. Studies show that married people, particularly men, are less likely to die early and are less likely to die from heart disease or stroke. But why? And what about people who are in committed relationships but haven't said "I do"? Or those who are happily single? Experts weigh in on long-term love and your well-being.

What's So Healthy About Marriage?

Safer behavior. Christopher Fagundes, PhD, psychologist and researcher at The Ohio State University, says there is less risk-taking and substance abuse when couples marry -- even less than if they just move in together.

Socially connected. "If you’re married, ideally that’s your closest relationship," says Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, PhD, S. Robert Davis Chair of Medicine at The Ohio State University. "That means there’s a partner and close source of support readily available."

On the other hand, says psychiatrist Sudeepta Varma, MD, of NYU Langone Medical Center, people who are alone and unhappy may run the risk of social isolation. That can lead to depression and neglecting one’s health.

Health helper. UCLA psychologist Theodore Robles, PhD, says, "Your spouse is a large force of influence in your own behavior. You have someone to remind you that you shouldn’t eat that; that you should have one less drink." That means your spouse can help you maintain healthy habits."

People who are in happy marital relationships are also more likely to follow their doctors’ recommendations, research shows.

What About Other Long-Term Relationships?

Living with your significant other may also have health benefits. "The general consensus is that, yes, cohabiting has positive effects but not to the same degree as marriage," Fagundes says.

Much of the research in this area has been done on heterosexual couples. But the experts interviewed for this story didn't see why the benefits of having a partner shouldn't extend to same-sex partnerships.

"The love and support -- and how this translates into us taking better care of ourselves when we have someone who is invested in our happiness -- is immeasurable," Varma says.

relationships.

Just wearing a ring isn't enough. A better marriage may mean better health.

A study of heart bypass patients showed better survival, over 15 years, among the happily married. But the flip side is also true. Being in an unhappy marriage can be unhealthy.

Why? One reason may be that chronic stress from a bad marriage may affect the immune system, and women may be particularly vulnerable.

Women are more sensitive to hostility in a relationship than are men, Kiecolt-Glaser says. Her team videotaped couples disagreeing. "Couples who were more hostile during disagreements showed steeper changes in stress hormones and healed wounds less quickly," she says. In short, more hostility may hamper the immune system for couples with chronic relationship troubles.

But relationship quality can also affect men. "We now know that depression,obesity, and hypertension can all result from women suffering in unhappy marriages," Varma says. "But I also see a lot of substance abuse and depression in my male patients in the same situation."

Based on her practice, Varma believes that men and women are equally affected by unhappy relationships -- the results just manifest differently.

Thriving Solo

Of course, people can thrive on their own.

"If someone is single, it may or may not point to a difficulty in establishing close relationships," Varma says. "For some, this is the case. For others, it's simply that they have not found their life partner yet. The key would be to surround yourself with good people that care for you, and that you are willing to help."

The same goes for people who divorce.

Divorce is linked to a greater risk of premature death, especially in men, notes David Sbarra, PhD, associate professor at the University of Arizona, Tucson. But "most divorced adults fare very well in time and enjoy a high quality of life after the end of their marriage," Sbarra says. "Therefore, it is likely that if you're in an unhappy marriage and have tried to work it out but just can't, divorce is a real and reasonable option. If you divorce and feel happy, then I wouldn't worry too much about the potential negative health effects."

Women may fare better on their own than men do. "When we look at singles and health, we see that women tend to be OK and men not so much, most likely for the same reasons men benefit more from marriage," Fagundes says.

Celiac diagnoses rose during 2000s, study finds

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The number of Americans diagnosed with celiac disease continued to rise over the past decade but leveled off in 2004, according to a new study.
Researchers analyzed data on a small but representative sample of people living in Olmsted County, Minnesota, and found that between the years 2000 and 2010, the number of new cases of celiac disease increased from about 11 people per 100,000 to about 17 people per 100,000.
"We're finding a lot more celiac disease," said Dr. Joseph Murray, the study's senior author from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
"Some of that is probably that we're better at detecting it, but the fact that we're finding it all the time shows that there are a number of new cases," he added.
In people with celiac disease - which includes about 1 percent of Americans, according to most estimates - the immune system reacts to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. Eating foods with gluten damages the small intestine and keeps it from absorbing nutrients.
Classic symptoms of celiac are diarrhea and weight loss, according to Murray's report.
Previous studies have shown that the number of people living with the condition increased over time, but few studies looked at the number of new cases being diagnosed in recent years.
The researchers used medical records for people living in Olmsted County, which is home to the Mayo Clinic and two affiliated hospitals, and where the health of most of the population is tracked through research projects.
Over the entire decade starting in 2000, some 249 people were diagnosed with celiac disease in the county. People as young as one year old and as old as 85 received a diagnosis, and about 63 percent of the new cases were women.
Between 2000 and 2001, 26 people were diagnosed with celiac disease, which works out to about 11 per 100,000 people at the time. By 2002 to 2004, that number had climbed to 67 - or about 18 people per 100,000, and remained about the same from then on.
"This study shows not only did it go up, but it kind of plateaued in 2004 and it remained stable at that elevated level," Murray said.
He and his colleagues write in The American Journal of Gastroenterology that the increased incidence of celiac disease may be partly due to doctors knowing about the signs and symptoms of celiac disease and screening people at risk, but not entirely.
"Something has changed in our environment that's driving an increased incidence of celiac disease," Murray said.
In their report, Murray and his colleagues note that gastrointestinal infections have been linked to the development of celiac disease. So has high consumption of gluten-containing foods, like breads, bagels and pizza.
Dr. Alessio Fasano, director of the Center for Celiac Research at MassGeneral Hospital for Children in Boston, agreed that something in the environment seems to be triggering the various genetic and biological factors that drive celiac disease.
"If you lead the lifestyle of three or four generations ago, you don't see this epidemic. I do believe what we're witnessing with celiac disease is that we're changing the environment way too fast for our body to adapt to it," said Fasano, who was not involved with the study.
"When we're born we are like a marble block. What carves this into a wonderful sculpture is the environment," Fasano added.
Murray told Reuters Health that people should see their doctors if they have a family history of celiac disease, or are experiencing its most common symptoms - including iron deficiency, weakness, tiredness, diarrhea, passing gas and weight loss.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/03/29/celiac-diagnoses-rose-during-2000s-study-finds/#ixzz2P53Mbwkj

Guide to natural beauty products WWW.HEALTHYBARN.COM

WWW.HEALTHYBARN.COM

You're well-versed in all things locally grown, have your kids happily eating quinoa and can identify at least three varieties of kale.

Problem is, the beauty aisles remain a jungle of confusing green terminology on pretty, leaf-covered labels.

"There is no clear-cut, universal definition of the term natural," notes cosmetic chemist Jim Hammer of Uxbridge, Mass. The same goes for botanical and pure. They typically mean that a product doesn't contain chemicals such as synthetic preservatives and artificial colors and might have key botanical ingredients.

One sign it's the real deal: It has the seal of the Natural Products Association, indicating that a formula is at least 95 percent plant-based.
                                                                                 WWW.HEALTHYBARN.COM
The next step up the green ladder is organic, meaning the   plants were grown without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. You'll see a USDA Organic seal (like on milk cartons), which certifies a formula is at least 95 percent organic. The USDA Made With Organic Ingredients and the NSF Contains Organic Ingredients seals mean items contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients.

Health.com: 11 Things It's Best to Buy Organic

Read on for what's new in natural and our picks to bring your beauty regimen back to the earth.

Skin savers
Even dermatologists who offer the most high-tech treatments acknowledge the benefits of simple plant ingredients, like grape-seed and coconut oil.

"Natural oils replace what the skin loses as we age and provide organic anti-inflammatory properties for glowing, supple, more youthful skin," says New York City dermatologist Dr. David Colbert.

Straight-from-nature ingredients like aloe and honey are also good for sensitive skin, adds New York City dermatologist Dr. Doris Day. Spot-test new products since even natural ingredients can be irritating, says Los Angeles dermatologist Dr. Jessica Wu.

Health.com: The Best Diets For Your Skin

Hair helpers
They might have once had a reputation for not leaving oilier hair feeling clean, but sulfate-free shampoos have improved. "These days, there are many non-sulfate detergents, like alkyl polyglucosides, that can be excellent foamers," Hammer says (though most require some chemical processing, so they're not strictly natural).

Also, from-the-tree smoothers, like argan oil, have become cult favorites for making hair silky without weighing it down, he continues. "Natural plant oils coat the hair, shielding it from humidity and helping prevent frizz," he says.

Health.com: Naturally Gorgeous Hair Makeovers

Makeup picks
It's no oxymoron: "You can create really glamorous looks with natural makeup," says celebrity makeup artist Nick Barose of New York City. Some brands use fruit and vegetable dyes to lend makeup its color. Mineral powder, the grandmother of natural makeup, has come a long way, with more brands offering lightweight versions to match all skin tones. Plus, it's still great at absorbing oil and offering natural sun protection.

Meanwhile, more and more makeup brands are introducing innovative eco-friendly packaging and their own recycling programs (some with incentives!). With all this progress, the natural look now means pretty much anything you want it to, and it's even easier to make your makeup matter.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/03/30/guide-to-natural-beauty-products/#ixzz2P51oa3mA

'We'd be so lucky!': Giuliana Rancic reveals that she and Bill are thinking about having another baby

Giuliana Rancic and her husband Bill are thinking about having another baby!

'We’d only be so lucky,' the E! News favourite told the Chicago Sun-Times Sunday magazine SPLASH when they asked her if she wanted to add another little one to her clan. 

Their son Duke Rancic was born via gestational surrogate seven months after Giuliana struggled with infertility and then discovered she had breast cancer which was stopped in its tracked by her undergoing a double mastectomy.

Another go? Giuliana Rancic has revealed that she and Bill would love to have another baby 

Giuliana also opened up to the magazine about how Bill does little things each day to show her how he cares and wants to help.   

'Bill doesn’t even drink coffee, but every day he insists on making my coffee.  And you know why?  Because his dad made his mom coffee every day, and he thought that was so romantic.'

The next series of Giuliana & Bill will premiere in June, can expect to see “a ton of baby Duke,” she revealed. 

Rancic is relishing every precious moment of motherhood.

The new mother takes to Twitter to share pictures of Edward Duke regularly. 

Baby joy: Rancic regularly takes to Twitter to share pictures of her adorable son Edward Duke 

The reality TV star has endured so much in recent years including the strain of infertility and a devastating bout with breast cancer so now it's wonderful to see her find the happiness she deserves.

Giuliana clearly appreciates every day since welcoming her son with Bill Rancic on August 29.

The couple, who have been married for five years and star in their own reality show, Giuliana and Bill, always knew they wanted to have a family, but their dreams of getting pregnant were complicated by fertility issues.

Proud parents: Bill and Giuliana are savoring every moment of parenthood; they were pictured in NYC leaving a taping of the Katie Couric Show last week

Giuliana tried in vitro fertilization, but two procedures failed to produce a pregnancy and the one that did ended in miscarriage.

After a routine mammogram in 2011, she found out she had breast cancer, but fortunately was able to beat it.

The couple never gave up their dream of becoming parents and early this year saw light at the end of the tunnel when they announced they were expecting a child via gestational carrier.

Feeding the baby: Giuliana and Bill welcomed their son on August 29 via gestational carrier; Guiliana recently released video of her feeding the baby for the first time

Natural-born mother: Giuliana wasn't nervous around her newborn at all

The Italian-born TV personality  shared a video of Giuliana's bottle-feeding the baby for the first time at the Denver, Colorado hospital right after he was born.

'I expected to be more nervous and more flustered, like I had no idea what to do,' she says in the video. 'But I feel totally at ease.  I just feel like I know what he needs.'

'We just stare at him all the time,' Giuliana revealed on the Today show not long after Edward was born.

'He's got big eyes and he'll just stare at you for 10 minutes at a time. It's just unbelievable...When the baby came into the world, we just started hysterically crying tears of joy.' 

Giuliana and Bill are already planning to expand their family with baby No. 2 in the near future, and are even thinking of using the same gestational carrier as before.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2301734/Giuliana-Rancic-reveals-Bill-thinking-having-baby.html#ixzz2P4ylecLL 
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Hello baby! Incredible 3D scans allow parents to see foetus SMILING and MOVING in stunning detail

The state-of-the-art software adds extra detail to 3D ultrasound scans 

Software developed by Dr Bernard Benoit to help detect malformations 

Expectant parents can see unborn baby smiling and kicking in the womb

 

A blurry blob on a hospital screen is the first view most expectant parents get of their child.

But new state-of-the-art imaging software is now able to map a foetus in incredible detail. 

The software takes a conventional 3D ultrasound scan and adds colour, skin texture, lighting and shadows.

The incredibly detailed pictures of the foetus allow parents to see their baby's face before it is born

The images are created by adding colour, skin texture and shadows to conventional 3D scans

The technology was developed by world renowned Dr Bernard Benoit known for his work on foetal scans

The technology gives unparalleled clarity and allows parents to see the face of their child before it is born.

 

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There is also a 4D version which means mothers and fathers are able to see their baby smiling and kicking in the womb in realtime.

They could even turn it into a DVD.

The software is allowing doctors to detect problems in a foetus much sooner than before.

It also removes background details that can often obscure the foetus.

Expectant parents can see their unborn baby move around on a DVD

The state-of-the-art technology shows unborn twins in unparalleled detail

The amazing pictures can even be taken when the foetus is very small

It has been developed by Dr Bernard Benoit of the Princes Grace Hospital, Monaco. 

He is known around the world for his focus on introducing innovative ultrasound technologies. 

The keen photographer specialises in detecting malformations in a foetus within the first trimester.

The images are far more detailed than the grainy 2D images usually offered by the NHS.

Many hospitals offer paid-for 3D images but the NHS and the Health Protection Agency warned expectant parents against getting unnecessary scans simply to get the souvenir pictures.

The 3D images are far more detailed the grainy 2D scans that are normally provided by the NHS

The technology is allowing doctors to detect problems with a foetus much sooner than before

This 3D ultrasound scan of a foetus is taken at just six weeks into the pregnancy

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2300983/Incredible-3D-scans-allow-parents-foetus-SMILING-MOVING-stunning-detail.html#ixzz2OwNObMih 
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Women on the pill choose less manly men

Women using the birth control pill prefer men with less masculine faces compared to nonusers, new research suggests.

Women on the pill pick partners with round faces and narrow jawbones

Study compared romantic preferences of straight women ages 18-24

Less 'masculine' looks associated with faithfulness and stability

Male less likely to look 'manly' in couples who met when woman was on pill

Contrary to popular belief, a strong jaw and masculine looks may not be what all women want, a new study has revealed. 

Women taking the contraceptive pill actually prefer men with more effeminate looks - a trait associated with faithfulness and stability. 

Women using the birth control pill were found to rate men with less masculine faces higher in terms of attractiveness compared to non-users.

In couples who first met when the woman was on the pill, the male partners were less likely to have 'manly' faces than those who met when the woman was off the pill. 

A strong jaw may not be what women want, as a study finds those on the pill prefer less 'manly' men

Millions of women use hormonal forms of contraception and some studies, including this one, indicate the Pill could affect partner preferences. 

If supported, these findings could have important implications for how relationships are formed, reported Live Science.

The study, detailed on Saturday in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology, compared the romantic preferences of straight women ages 18 to 24 who were taking oral contraception against those who were not.

 

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Claus Wedekind, ecologist and evolutionary biologist of the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, said it is correlational and therefore cannot say that the Pill, rather than some other variable, causes these mate preferences.

Women who choose to take the pill may be biased toward more 'stable' and less masculine-looking men, Wedekind said, or 'may have an idea already what the pill does to them, and that influences the experiment'.

Some research suggests that a preference for masculine or feminine traits may be linked to genetic benefits for a couple's offspring, such as strong immune systems. 

A few studies have even found that women prefer more masculine traits during the fertile phase of their menstrual cycle.

Michael Cera, left, and Seth Rogen (right, pictured with his wife) have a narrower jaw and more rounded face respectively

Researchers showed the women composite images of young male and female faces, which could be manipulated to appear more or less masculine (based on features like cheekbone prominence, jaw height and face width). 

Scientists then told the participants to alter the male faces so they were most attractive for either a short or long-term relationship.

The women were tested twice - once when none of them were taking the pill and again three months after some began using the pill.

When women were taking the pill, they preferred less masculine male faces (those with more narrow jawbones and more rounded faces, for instance) than before they started taking birth control, the results showed.

Next, the researchers looked at whether taking the pill influenced women's choices of partners. The scientists compared 85 couples who reported using the pill when they met to 85 couples who reported not using it. 

Researchers took photos of the faces of the men in each couple and had volunteers judge the manliness of each. The volunteers also rated computer-tweaked versions of the images that accentuated differences in masculinity, for instance making a wide lower jawline (a manly trait) even wider.

Researchers found that the volunteers rated the partners of women who weren't on the pill at the start of their relationships as more masculine than those of women who were on the pill. 

They rated the computer-manipulated images along the same lines. The link between the pill and facial traits was also confirmed with a mathematical formula.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2300507/Women-pill-pick-partners-round-faces-narrow-jawbones-preferring-effeminate-manly-looking-men-study-finds.html#ixzz2OtO7A9UK 
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Millions of women use hormonal forms of contraception, and some studies indicate the pill could affect partner preferences. A new study shows women were attracted to less masculine male faces after going on the pill, while their ratings of the attractiveness of female faces were unaffected. And in couples who first met when the woman was on the pill, the men were less likely to have manly faces than those who met when the woman was off the pill. If supported, the findings could have important implications for how relationships are formed.

Many factors can influence human attractiveness. Some research suggests that a preference for masculine or feminine traits may be linked to genetic benefits for a couple's offspring, such as strong immune systems. And a few studies have found that women prefer more masculine traits during the fertile phase of their menstrual cycle. The new study investigated how the pill affects these preferences.

Facial attraction

The study, detailed online March 23 in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology, compared the romantic preferences of straight women ages 18 to 24 who were taking oral contraception against those who were not. Researchers showed the women composite images of young male and female faces, which could be manipulated to appear more or less masculine (based on features like cheekbone prominence, jaw height and face width). Scientists then told the participants to alter the male faces so they were most attractive for either a short- or long-term relationship, and to alter the female faces simply to be the most attractive.

The women were tested twice — once when none of them were taking the pill and again three months after some began using the pill. The women themselves decided whether to join the pill-taking group or not. [7 Surprising Facts About The Pill]

When women were taking the pill, they preferred less masculine male faces (those with more narrow jawbones and more rounded faces, for instance) than before they started taking birth control, the results showed. Being on the pill had no effect on preference for masculinity in female faces.

Choosing a partner

Next, the researchers looked at whether taking the pill influenced women's choices of partners. The scientists compared 85 couples who reported using the pill when they met to 85 couples who reported not using it. Researchers took photos of the faces of the men in each couple and had volunteers judge the manliness of each. The volunteers also rated computer-tweaked versions of the images that accentuated differences in masculinity, for instance making a wide lower jawline (a manly trait) even wider .

Researchers found that the volunteers rated the partners of women who weren't on the pill at the start of their relationships as more masculine than those of women who were on the pill. They rated the computer-manipulated images along the same lines. The link between the pill and facial traits was also confirmed with a mathematical formula.

Even so, the study is correlational and therefore cannot say that the pill, rather than some other variable, causes these mate preferences, said ecologist and evolutionary biologist Claus Wedekind of the University of Lausanne, Switzerland.

Even though the study is interesting and well done, Wedekend said, it faces limitations because it's not a double-blind experiment, a rigorous condition under which neither participants nor researchers know who's in the experimental group. For example, women who choose to take the pill may be biased toward men who are more "stable" and less masculine-looking, Wedekind said, or "may have an idea already what the pill does to them, and that influences the experiment."

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/03/27/women-on-pill-choose-less-manly-men/#ixzz2OtNiKhuU