USING the contraceptive pill could lead to long-term fertility problems and the breakdown of relationships, according to new scientific research.

A scientist from Liverpool has found the use of the combined contra-ceptive pill disrupts a woman's natur-al ability to choose a suitable partner.

Woman will instinctively choose a man with a different genetic make-up when trying to conceive. But women using the pill have been found to choose partners with a similar genetic make-up, increasing the risk of miscarriage and long intervals between pregnancy. Passing on a lack of diverse genes to a child could also lead to a weakened immune system.

The study, which is being published today, also has implications for wom-en who met their partner while al-ready on the pill. There is a chance that when these women stop using the pill, they might not remain attracted to their partner.

The far-reaching study is likely to send shock-waves through the 3.5m women in the UK who use the pill.

After eight years of research, Craig Roberts, a lecturer in evolutionary psychology and zoologist, has found body odour preferences are affected by use of the pill.

Humans choose partners through their body odour and tended to be attracted to those with a dissimilar genetic make-up, therefore maintain-ing genetic diversity. Genes which help build up proteins in the immune system play a prominent role in odour after mixing with skin bacteria.

Professor Roberts tested 100 wom-en’s preference for six male body samples before and after taking the pill for two months. He found those women using the pill shifted in their choice of body odour towards men with a similar genetic make-up.

Professor Roberts, said: “Women should not be panicked by these re-sults as more extensive research needs to be carried out. He added: “The results suggest because the con-traceptive pill is hormonal, it mimics the effect of pregnancy, stopping ovul-ation. When women are not ovulating and the body thinks it is pregnant, women will stop looking for a mate and turn to relatives to help them rear their baby.

The research will appear in the journal; Proceedings of the Royal Society: Biological Sciences.

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