9 Common Myths About Birth Control
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

9 Myths We've All Heard About Birth Control, Debunked

It's time to get the facts straight.

17006
9 Myths We've All Heard About Birth Control, Debunked

When women first become sexually active, they can easily feel bombarded by the sheer number of choices they have when it comes to birth control. Sometimes women don't have access to any sex education at all, leaving them completely unprotected from unwanted pregnancies or STIs. Here are nine common myths about birth control, confronted with the ugly truth.

1. Birth control causes infertility

Photo by Lisa Fotios from Pexels

If I had a nickel for every time someone said that being on hormonal birth control for a long time would make me infertile, I wouldn't be rich, but I wouldn't be hurting for money either! This just isn't true — that's why people can get pregnant after missing only one pill, or after getting an implant taken out. Once the hormones wear off, you're just as able to become pregnant as you were before taking birth control.

2. Using birth control to skip periods is unhealthy

Nope! While it's nice to be able to know when you're ovulating and fertile through tracking your cycle, it's not unhealthy to skip periods altogether. That means you can use hormonal birth control for years without breaks. Who WANTS to be in pain for a week out of the month anyway?

3. Hormonal birth control causes abortions

Some anti-abortion groups would love for you to believe this and I've even been told this one before, but there's no truth to it. Regardless of whether you're pro-choice or not, the facts don't lie. Hormonal birth control works by controlling ovulation (when an ovary releases an egg into the fallopian tube for it to be fertilized by sperm). If the egg doesn't get released, then it cannot be fertilized and implant in the uterus to become a fetus. No fetus, no abortion.

4. Only young people need birth control

If you're sexually active, uninterested in getting pregnant, and have had a menstrual cycle in the past 12 months, then congratulations! You're still capable of falling pregnant and therefore still need protection to avoid an unwanted pregnancy.

5. Douching prevents pregnancy

While most of us know that douching is terrible for the pH balance of the vagina, some people are still using it in the hopes it will prevent pregnancy. Unfortunately, after having unprotected sex, sperm goes past the cervix and is out of reach for the douching solution. Let's leave douching in the past where it belongs.

6. The pill is effective immediately

Photo by Polina Tankilevitch from Pexels

It would be nice if that were the case, but in many cases, it can take up to a week for the pill to become fully effective. It's better to be safe than sorry, so use condoms or another form of protection until it's fully effective.

7. Pulling out is an effective method

Although the pull-out method is technically a form of birth control, it is one of the least effective methods. Out of 100 women who use the pull-out method, 22 will get pregnant. Personally, I don't like those odds. Additionally, sperm can still be released in ejaculate prior to an orgasm, so it's not a safe bet.

8. You can only get pregnant if you orgasm

If this were the case, I suspect there would be fewer pregnancies in the world. As I said earlier, ovulation occurs as a part of the menstrual cycle each month, regardless of whether or not you're having sex. Men need to ejaculate to release sperm, but women release eggs regardless of whether or not they have orgasmed.

9. All hormonal birth control methods are the same

Yes and no. They're similar in that they all prevent ovulation, but they're vastly different in the lifestyles they cater to. I have an IUD because I know I don't want any children for quite some time, but I also can't remember to take a pill every day. IUDs can be effective for years and they just chill out in your uterus, keeping you protected. Some people might not like the idea of something being inserted into their uterus, so they opt for the shot or pill as a less invasive form. In addition to that, there are patches, rings, arm implants. Each form might contain a different hormone or formulation that is beneficial to different people. There are so many choices, and I encourage you to discuss options with your doctor to see which is right for you!

Report this Content
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

71171
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

133098
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments