7 Ridiculous Birth Control Myths Debunked

Ever felt scared by the seemingly overwhelming amount of birth control options out there? Have you heard so many nerve-wracking rumors about them that it made you want to run for the hills and vow to lead a life of abstinence? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered (and protected).

Here are seven birth control myths debunked.

1 Myth: You need to take the pill at the same time every day or it won t be effective.

Wrong. Unless you will just completely forget to take it all without an alarm. According to Dr. Lauren Streicher, OB-GYN and author of “Sex Rx.” As long as you take the pill once a day, the effectiveness will stay the same. If you accidentally skip a pill for one day, don’t freak! The recommendation is just to take two pills the following day. If this happens, you can use backup birth control (i.e. condoms) if you feel more comfortable, but know that it’s not really necessary unless you miss more than one pill in a row. Also, if you are starting a new pill pack after taking a week of inactive pills, just make sure you are starting them on the correct day.

One Exception: if you choose to take the progestin-only minipill (an estrogen-free option). With this pill, you actually do need to take it at the same time every day in order to it to stay at maximum effectiveness.

2 Myth: Birth Control = Throwing a Crazy Hormone Party in Your Body

More like a casual wine night with a few hors d’oeuvres. Each method of  birth control varies in the type and amount of hormones going through your system. Which is why you should make your choice a very individual decision, not just based on what your best friend is using. And if you decided that you can’t or don’t want to go the hormone route, there are other solutions! You can try a barrier method like diaphragms/condoms or you can opt for the copper IUD known as ParaGard.

3 Myth: The pill is going to make you gain a ton of weight.

NOT. TRUE. A big review conducted in 2014 failed to find concrete proof that birth control pills or patches were responsible for weight gain. However, a 2009 study did find that those who used the birth control shot did tend to gain a few pounds. While some people may gain some weight or lose so weight while being on the pill, there’s not enough solid evidence to give birth control the blame.

4 Myth: Staying on birth control for too long can mess up your fertility.

Some people have reported having difficulties getting pregnant after taking birth control for 20 years, but there’s no research that suggests that birth control is the culprit behind this. What’s the deal? Well, it seems that increased age could be the problem. If you’re 40 when you stop taking the pill, then it might be difficult to conceive. Also, if you chose to go on birth control originally as a way to get a handle on endometriosis or irregular cycles, these problems could come back once you stop taking birth control, possibly causing issues with your fertility.

5 Myth: You should take a break from birth control every now and then.

Yeah sure, if getting pregnant is on your agenda. There is no medical explanation to take a vacation from your birth control if you have no problems with it and are in good health. Even if your sex life isn’t active at the moment! In fact, by starting and stopping birth control you may just be putting yourself at risk for all though lousy introductory side effects over and over again. The one exception in this case is the birth control shot, which is typically only recommended for up to two years of use.

6 Myth: IUDs are only for people who’ve already had kids.

Wrong again. IUDs are for anyone who can get their hands on them! In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics says that IUDs and implants should be the “first-line contraceptive choices for adolescents” because they’re so damn effective. Case in point: I have one. It’s awesome. Zero complaints.

7 Myth: You have probably a three percent chance of getting pregnant on birth control.

Ok hold up: the reality is that in terms of failure rates, methods vary A TON. If you don’t know what a failure rate is, it’s basically the percentage of individuals who will become pregnant while on a certain type of birth control within a given year. There’s a different percentage for perfect use (when used consistently and correctly) and for typical use (when you include people who use the method inconsistently or incorrectly). To give you a better picture, here is a list of common failure rates from the Guttmacher Institute:

-For condoms: Failure rate is two percent with perfect use and 18 percent with typical use.

-For the pill, ring and patch: Failure rate is less than one percent with perfect use and nine percent with typical use.

-For the IUD and implants: Failure rate is less than one percent with perfect or typical use.

-For the shot: Failure rate is less than one percent with perfect use and six percent with typical use.

-For the diaphragm: Failure rate is six percent with perfect use and 12 percent with typical use.

-For the female condom: Failure rate is five percent with perfect use and 21 percent with typical use.