Debunking 10 Contraception Myths

Other than abstinence, no form of birth control is perfect — but all are effective, at least to some degree. Some are way better than others, though.

Learn the pros and cons of various options from an OB-GYN, nurse practitioner or other medical professional — not well-meaning relatives or persuasive social media influencers with no medical training.

Let’s debunk the myths and look at facts.

Many of the most effective birth control methods involve hormones. Birth control pills, some IUDs, injections, patches, implants and vaginal rings can all keep you pregnancy-free, at least in part thanks to hormones. Myths abound, including these:

• Hormonal birth control can make you gain weight. You won’t gain weight on most pills, but you might put on a small amount with some. Before quitting, question whether your growing waistline is due to a lifestyle change, such as starting college and enjoying cheese puffs and candy with your dorm mates. Separately, you might put on 2 pounds a year with an injectable known generically as medroxyprogesterone acetate. If that scares you, or choose a different hormonal method.
• Hormonal birth control can make you moody, or even crazy. Crazy, no. Birth control pills don’t cause psychiatric issues. In fact, doctors often prescribe them to women who have premenstrual dysphoric disorder; it helps control extreme swings. Depression? A pill could contribute to that, but your menstrual cycle is more likely the culprit. If you suspect the pill makes you moody, try a different pill; you might be sensitive to a single ingredient in yours. If any of these issues persist, see a professional to pinpoint the cause.
• Hormonal birth control will lower your sex drive. Again, this is rarely the case. Some birth control products affect testosterone levels, and that in turn might lower your libido. Similarly, some pills might make your vagina drier, which can make intercourse uncomfortable and turn you off from sex. Try another formula or switch to an IUD.

Birth Control and Random Health Issues

Birth control methods rarely contribute to medical issues, but in certain cases they might be a factor. These myths:

• Hormonal birth control can cause breast cancer. This one has a little truth to it but should not be a deal-breaker. Studies show that taking the pill for 10 or more years can raise your breast cancer risk slightly. At the same time, birth control pills can protect you from ovarian cancer by 30 percent to 50 percent. Ovarian cancer is hard to detect early while breast cancer is easy to find at an early, curable stage. The benefit generally outweighs the risk.
• Hormonal birth control increases the chance of STDs. False. No birth control product makes you more likely to contract a sexually transmitted disease, or STD. If you switch from condoms to any other form, though, your chances of STDs will rise. That’s because you’re removing the physical barrier.
• IUD removal can make you infertile. IUDs are generally 99 percent effective. It is possible that an IUD could cause a complication that might affect your ability to carry a baby, but that is highly unlikely. Newer IUDs are safer to insert and remove than past versions. Doctors have more sophisticated tools and techniques too. Hormonal birth control methods can cause miscarriage.
• You shouldn’t try to get pregnant while you’re on birth control. Use methods like the pill, injections or a vaginal ring when you do not want to conceive. When you’re ready to have a baby, stop the contraception, wait two months and then start the journey toward a healthy pregnancy. The rare exception is getting pregnant with an IUD in your body. If that happens, have the IUD removed to slash the chances of miscarriage.

Old-School Go-To’s

None of these traditional techniques is nearly as effective, so beware. The birth control methods below are “myths” because they’re far less effective than the others.

• The pull-out method. If your partner pulls his penis out of your vagina before he ejaculates, you’ll have less sperm inside you, heading toward your eggs, than if he stays there until he ejaculates. The pull-out method is also known as early withdrawal. You can try this if you’re 100 percent against using manmade birth control products. If this is your only means of birth control, you have a 1 in 5 chance of getting pregnant.
• The rhythm method. When you use fertility tracking as birth control, it’s called the rhythm method. In the old days, this type of “family planning” involved taking your temperature rectally at the same time daily. Apps and urine-activated ovulation sticks make it easier now. The rhythm method is most likely to work if your cycle is regular. If your period is irregular, it will be much harder to track reliably. “The temperature method,” another name, is 77 percent to 98 percent effective.
• Abstinence works when it’s absolute. If you do not go near a man undressed, and his genitals and his ejaculate go nowhere near your vulva, you won’t get pregnant. However, if abstinence means “everything but,” you might still be risking a meeting of sperm and egg.

Every birth control method comes with risks, and each one will protect you from getting pregnant to some degree when you don’t want to conceive. Try the most effective ones first. If you have unpleasant side effects, ask your doctor to switch you to a new one. It won’t take long to find a birth control method that will keep you from conceiving with little risk.