Has the Pill Changed Women’s Taste in Men?

Interesting story in the UK Daily Mail today, and it was crying out for a blog post.  Some scientists are theorizing that the birth control pill has changed women’s taste in men:

Scientists say the hormones in the oral contraceptive suppress a woman’s interest in masculine men and make boyish men more attractive. Although the change occurs for just a few days each month, it may have been highly influential since use of the Pill began more than 40 years ago.

If the theory is right, it could partly explain the shifting in tastes from macho 1950s and 1960s stars such as Kirk Douglas and Sean Connery to the more wimpy, androgynous stars of today, such as Johnny Depp and Russell Brand.

They do note a scientifically validated fact that a woman’s taste in men changes over the course of her menstrual cycle.  Which is something I wasn’t aware of and am not sure that I needed to know.

During the few days each month when women are fertile – around the time of ovulation – they tend to prefer masculine features and men who are more assertive.

On these fertile days, women are also more attracted to men who are ‘genetically dissimilar’, Dr Alvergne said. Picking a partner whose genetic make-up is unlike their own increases the chances of having a healthy child.

So perhaps this explains, ahem, my wife’s attraction to such a manly man like myself, and perhaps why I didn’t get much attention in high school.  Or not… well the verdict on this is still out.

Thoughts?