There are several myths surrounding the use of birth control options, creating unnecessary fear and prejudice that ultimately make people hesitant from choosing the correct form of birth control to make their lives easier.
Healthcare technology has advanced exponentially over the past few decades, which has led to the development of dozens of birth control techniques, including condoms, pills, intrauterine devices (IUDs), and other hormonal and barrier devices.
However, before you can make an informed decision to pick the right birth control care option according to your lifestyle, you need to be fully aware of some of your biases. Some of these biases are perpetrated by our well-meaning family members, while others are passed around by uninformed people online.
In order to help you let go of some of these biases, we are going to take a closer look at some of the myths about birth control options and replace them with facts.
Myth #1 – All Birth Control Options Are More or Less the Same.
Some people think that all birth control methods are similar or work in a similar way, but it couldn’t be further from the truth. The reason so many different options exist is because they all work in different ways, and have their pros and cons.
Some birth control options contain different hormones, some contain different amounts of hormones, and some don’t contain hormones at all.
When it comes to hormonal birth control, it typically has a combination of progestin and estrogen, or only progestin.
Some of the common non-hormonal birth control methods include spermicides, condoms, the diaphragm, the sponge, the cervical cap, copper UIDs, etc. If you’re looking for a highly effective yet low maintenance solution, copper UIDs will make the best choice.
Myth #2 – Birth Control Can Protect You Against STIs.
While condoms and dental dams can help in preventing STIs, other birth control alternatives, such as IUDs, the shot, the patch, the ring, or birth control pills, cannot keep STIs at bay. The only way you can limit the spread of any infection between partners would be the undergoing regular STI testing.
Myth #3 – Birth Control Methods are 100% Effective in Averting Pregnancy.
While birth control methods can significantly decrease your chances of getting pregnant, it’s not 100% effective. The risk of conception will depend on the type of birth control method you’re using. While implants come with 99.95% effectiveness, male condoms are only 82% effective.
If you want to further reduce your chances of pregnancy, you might want to use a condom even when you’re on birth control. In addition, it’ll also protect you against STIs.
Myth #4 – Birth Control Can Turn You Infertile.
“According to a 2009 research study, there is no correlation between infertility and oral contraceptives. Out of all the participants who continued their pill, around 20% were able to get pregnant after one menstrual cycle, while 80% could get pregnant in a year.”
Contrary to this belief, taking birth control has evidence of helping with fertility. “When the level of fertility was compared between participants who took pills for less than two years and those who took for more than four years in a 2013 study“, the results indicated that longer birth control pill users had a higher rate of conception after discontinuing their contraceptive as compared to those who were taking it for a shorter duration.
Most people will regain their ability to conceive after a couple of days of stopping their oral contraceptive. However, other birth control options may require more time. A birth control shot may roughly take a couple of months for all the hormones to be flushed out of the system.
There may be delays or time phases when you may not be able to get pregnant after stopping birth control, but that certainly doesn’t translate to being infertile.
Myth #5 – Birth Control Can Lead to Weight Gain.
Apart from birth control shots, researchers haven’t been able to find any indication that birth control can cause weight gain. “A 2017 review closely looked at previous studies to compare the effect of hormonal birth control against placebos. The studies didn’t find any significant differences in weight gain among participants who were taking contraceptives and placebos.”
There have been incidences when people complain of weight gain, but oral contraceptives cannot be held responsible for the extra pounds. “A 2016 report that examined 22 studies found that participants experienced a weight gain which was less than 4.4 pounds between 6-12 months of using birth control, but the weight gain was way too small to be considered significant.”
Myth #6 – Birth Control Encourages ‘Promiscuity.’
It is a particularly regressive myth that continues to prevail in societies where people believe that taking oral contraceptives could lead to promiscuity, infidelity, or even prostitution in women. “There is no evidence that suggests that taking birth control could affect the sexual behavior of women”. In fact, taking birth control only suggests responsible behavior in tackling sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy.
Myth #7 – Older People Don’t Require Birth Control.
Some people would like to think that it’s not possible to get pregnant if you get older or if the periods are irregular. Unfortunately, until a woman has undergone menopause without having a period for 12 consecutive months, there is a risk of getting pregnant.
Though fertility in men decreases with age, they can continue to remain fertile even in their 60s or 70s. However, it is essential to note that the chances of congenital abnormalities and other forms of complications can increase with age.
Closing Thoughts
Even after knowing the truth about pregnancy control, it can be difficult to figure out which birth control options would work the best for you. Some may require just one method, while others require a combination of different methods to receive the best results.
Because it is a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly, it is essential that you discuss your case with a licensed doctor. Always remember, knowledge is power – especially when it concerns your choices about your body.
Also Read: How Same Day Medication Delivery Benefits Pharmacies and Patients
Algo Pharmacy 