It's interesting you mention birth control.
A lot of woman start taking birth control pills on a young age and you are not the first one I've heard say that it is a world of difference if you use them or not. It especially seems to be terrible for the libido. For some woman I've talked to it was quite te revelation as they could barely remember a time before taking them.
It doesn't seem to be common knowledge however. But maybe it just seems that way to me, being a man.