Fathers Are Saying No To Sexy Time
A new study reveals why so
many new dads are all, 'Not tonight, honey.'
Hey,
mama, worried that you're the only one whose libido took a nosedive after baby?
The good news is that dad doesn't want to get it on either
—seriously! And no, it's not because he doesn't find spit-up sexy — it's
because he's hell-bent on being a good parent.
A new study conducted by the University of Notre Dame in
Indiana tracked the lives and hormones of 433 young guys from the Philippine
Islands. Led by Lee Gettler, researchers found that new fathers make love less often — and because of that, they're
actually better father figures. So, um, celebrate the fact that your guy's more
interested in baby than ever before even if that means he's not so interested
in making another one anytime soon?
During
Gettler's study, he found that the most testosterone-fuelled men were the most
likely to become fathers, but after having a baby, mom wasn't the only one
who'd rather catch up on sleep than put the sexy on.
Researchers
found that the male sex hormone dropped after welcoming a tiny human to
the mix. And, interesting enough, in testosterone's place was the hormone
prolactin, most commonly associated with breastfeeding. And no, it doesn't mean
your guy is going to start lactating from the nipple at the mere sound of a
baby's wails. It just means that the changes in hormones make your hubby more
sensitive to the needs of baby.
Gettler
said it's a case of 'you win some, you lose some,' telling the American
Association for the Advancement of Science that, "Mothers undergo a
substantial biological change during pregnancy and
birth, yet there has been a tendency to think of the father as a kind of
inertly along for the ride." His research now shows that daddy's right
there for the hormone rollercoaster. He added, "I think evolution has
shaped male physiology to help men invest in their children and provide good
care for them."
So
the next time you're worried thinking your panties might be up in a bunch, don't
forget about your husband. You might be navigating new motherhood, but he's
basically the equivalent of preteen trying to understand, internalize and be
okay with puberty. Only, in place of tampons, he's holding diaper cream.
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