Birth control has enabled women to take control of their bodies and given couples a way to make important family-planning decisions. However, with the increase in its popularity also comes a spike in misinformation surrounding birth control. These five birth control myths are by no means the only false statements on the subject, but they are the most common.
"Taking 'The Pill' will make you gain weight."
Scientists are still conducting research to better clarify the relationship between birth control and weight gain, but most studies show that taking oral contraceptives can’t cause an increase in your weight. There is a small chance that certain brands will cause water retention in certain women, but this is never more than a few pounds and does not happen in most cases.
"'The Pill' is instantly effective."
While the actual time it takes for oral contraceptives to work varies from woman to woman, most doctors recommend using a backup form of birth control for the first month. This gives your body a complete menstrual cycle to acclimate to the effects of this form of birth control.
"Condoms diminish pleasure for him."
This line has been trotted out for millennia by men who don’t want to share the responsibility of contraceptives. However, according to most surveys, the “condoms diminish pleasure” myth is patently false. In 2013, the Indiana University School of Public Health asked 1,600 men and women about their most recent sexual encounter and whether condoms were used. The researchers found that the presence of a condom had no significant impact on whether or not the sexual encounter was considered pleasurable or not.
"'The Pill' causes cancer."
This is false. In actuality, taking the pill reduces the risk of some cancers. Studies have shown that women who use oral contraceptives cut their risk of both ovarian and uterine cancer by 50%—even after they discontinue use! Research has found that women younger than 35 who take the pill have a slight increase in their risk of breast cancer, but its significance is negligible and decreases with time.
"Oral contraceptives protect against STIs."
While it’s true that condoms are effective at preventing STIs, other forms of birth control don’t offer you any protection against sexually transmitted infections. This is why most doctors advise patients to continue the use of condoms in conjunction with another form of birth control.
