CLEVELAND -- Doctors say a lot of things can affect a woman's sex drive, but researchers are just now learning you can add birth control pills to the list of potential spoilers.

A new seven-year study found that the pill, designed to prevent pregnancy, may also prevent sex. The study was published in the January issue of the Journal of Sexual Medicine.

Dr. Susan Lasch, an obstetrician-gynecologist at University Hospitals in Cleveland, said the pill can latch onto some of the free-roaming sex hormones in a woman's body, limiting the chance of sparking a sex drive.

But the study doesn't say how to stay on the pill and avoid this problem, reported WEWS-TV in Cleveland.

"We're stuck. You know you could always try different pills and see which one may be better for you," Lasch said.

Tyrhonda Barnes went off the pill. Her insurance stopped covering oral contraceptives, and as a nursing student, she couldn't afford them anymore.

After going off the pill, Barnes got pregnant. Looking back, she believes she fit the profile in the study.

"I really didn't pay attention to it, OK? I wonder why I'm feeling this way or nothing. I thought it was just me," Barnes said. "Now it makes sense if you think about it."

Lasch said the upside is that the study might encourage patients to talk to their doctors more about what's happening with their libido.

"And that is something that doctors need to be aware of. It should be a regular part of the history of a patient. Do you have any sexual problems? Do you have any pain with sexual activity?" Lasch said.

Study leader Claudia Panzer, an endocrinologist in Denver, said it's important for doctors to point out to their patients potential sexual side effects from birth control pills, such as decreased desire, arousal, decreased lubrication and increased sexual pain.

And if women complain of these problems, Panzer said it's also important for doctors to look beyond "psychological causes."

At the very least, this potentially sex-killing side effect is one thing to consider if you're longing for steamier nights than you're getting.

You can always get away from using hormones for contraception and use some of the old standbys. But many women argue that losing the spontaneity that comes with the pill is a mood killer in itself.

"There's no easy way out, there's no simple solution to a woman who wants to be protected against pregnancy, but doesn't want any side effects," Lasch said.

The authors of the study agree that this is not the final word on the topic, but it does pave the way for more studies, including a look at whether the sexual side effects of the pill can last beyond the time a woman takes it.