Contraception is not taboo! People are hesitant to talk about it which results in a lot of myths about contraceptives.
Contraception is a method or device used to prevent pregnancy. It is also known as fertility control, birth control, or family planning. Thus for health and wellness, it is important to understand everything about it. It is observed that many women discontinue the use of contraception or avoid it because of misinformation.
It is essential to eliminate the misinformation and choose an appropriate and safe method for contraception. Let us know the common myths about contraceptives!
Common Myths about Contraceptives
Myth 1- Emergency contraceptive pills to be taken in the morning after unprotected sex
The emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) is often referred to as the “morning-after pill”. Although it is advisable to take the ECP as soon as possible, it does not require a wait time till the morning. Few ECPs are effective for up to four or five days after sex and are more effective when taken as soon as possible. One must not take ECP as an abortion pill. ECP will not work for the female who is already pregnant.
You can get ECP from the chemist without any prescription.
A copper IUD is effective if inserted up to five days after unprotected sex. It is the most effective emergency contraception and can provide contraception for five or more years.
Myth 2- Oral contraceptive pills cause cancer
Oral contraceptive pills are proactive, they are effective to reduce the risk of endometrial and ovarian cancer. However, it is true that there is some co-occurrence between breast cancer and contraceptive pills. Take the guidance of your doctor before starting with the pill.
Myth 3- Only one day of the month is fertile. No need to take contraception if we had sex during the ‘safe’ time.
Such myths about contraceptives arise from a lack of understanding of the menstrual cycle. Following are the hormones that are involved in the menstrual cycle:
- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
- Luteinizing hormone (LH)
- Estrogen
- Progesterone
A fine balance of these hormones releases the egg in regulation, and if not fertilized, menstruation happens. However, one can also observe an irregular menstruation cycle due to age, medicines, stress, or other factors. Therefore, it is difficult to predict any safe days depending on the time of ovulation.
Myth 4- Condoms provide 100% protection from unwanted pregnancy
Two out of ten couples using condoms for sex end up with a pregnancy. The same applies to the withdrawal methods and safe periods as well. But it is important to use condoms to prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Myth 5- Contraceptive pills make women unfertile
Most women have a misconception that if they take contraceptive pills, they will not be able to get pregnant in the future.
Oral contraceptive pills are effective till the time the woman continues with the dosage. Once she stops taking contraceptive pills, she can get pregnant. The pregnancy rates are similar for both the women who take contraceptive pills and those who don’t. There is no need to fear infertility.
We hope you understood the myths about contraceptives and realized that contraceptives are another way to empower. So, this brings us to the end of the blog. We hope you found this information useful, for more such topics, stay tuned with us!
