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| Rumors and myths about the pill abound. But, what are the facts? Here are the top six myths about the Birth Control Pill. | ||||||||||||||
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| MYTH: THE PILL
CAUSES CANCER
FACT: Recent research has shown that two women in a thousand non-Pill users will get breast cancer under the age of 35. In a similar group of pill users, the number is three in a thousand. It isn't known whether the Pill actually causes the cancer in the additional one woman, but research suggests that the Pill may 'bring out' a breast cancer sooner that was going to happen rather than causing the cancer. This fact needs to be balanced against the good news about cancer of the uterus and ovaries for Pill users. Women who use the Pill have half the chance of getting uterine or ovarian cancer, than non-pill users. This protection lasts for up to ten years after stopping the pill. At one time it was thought that women on the pill were at a greater risk of developing cervical cancer. This has since been shown not to be true. Because cervical cancer is associated with an STD called condyloma (genital warts), women on the pill who use condoms have the same risk of developing cervical cancer and it's precursor, dysplasia, than women using condoms and not taking the pill. All medications carry some risk, but the risks associated with taking the Pill for the vast majority of women are less than being pregnant and having a child. |
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| MYTH: YOU CAN'T
TAKE THE PILL IF YOU ARE A TEEN
FACT: At one time it was thought that the estrogen in the Pill would stop growth in teenagers. We now know this isn't true. Another reason that it was thought to be a bad idea was that this would encourage teens to be sexually active. The chances of teen pregnancy without birth control is extremely high. It's more responsible for teens to use contraception than risk pregnancy if they are going to be sexually active. |
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| MYTH: YOU CAN'T
TAKE THE PILL IF YOU ARE OVER 35
FACT: There is no reason a woman cannot be on the pill until menopause - AS LONG AS SHE DOESN'T SMOKE or have any other risk factors. Pill users over the age of 35 who smoke are at a much higher risk for stroke, heart attack and heart problems. This is not true for Pill users who do not smoke. |
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| MYTH: THE PILL
CAUSES INFERTILITY
FACT: There is no connection between fertility problems and using the Pill for any length of time. Ask any woman who forgets her pills and becomes pregnant. If you had infertility problems before going on the pill, you will have them after stopping it. Age is an important for infertility. Fertility decreases with age, especially after 35. |
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| MYTH: THE PILL
MAKES YOU GAIN WEIGHT
FACT: You may gain up to 5 pounds of when first going on certain brands of pills. This is from water retention caused by the progesterone in the pill. This does go away after 2-3 months. The pill has no calories and calories make you gain weight. Some women experience an increase in appetite when on the Pill. An increase in food consumption is the real reason for weight gain on the Pill. Very, very rarely, the Pill can affect metabolism. This is easily corrected by changing the pill formulation. |
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| MYTH: YOU CAN START
THE PILL ANYTIME AND IT WILL BE EFFECTIVE
FACT: The pill is not effective unless used as directed. Taking the pill after intercourse will not keep you from getting pregnant except for use as an Emergency Contraception. If you stop the pill mid-cycle you lose the contraceptive protection for that month. You must take the pill daily for 21 days at the same time every day. The same time means within an hour or so, not at precisely 10:02 each day. You can take the pill everyday between 10-11 if that is your time to take it. If you forget to take one, take two the next day and it's probably a good idea to use a back-up method. If you forget two pills, double on two days and definitely use a back-up method of birth control. |
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