10 False Myths About Birth Control

Myth 1: pills make you fat.

It is not true that oral contraceptives make you fat, but some women report an increase in fluid retention that does not usually exceed 1-2 kg. Women who are more sensitive in this regard should tell their gynecologist since some preparations contain a progestin which usually minimizes this effect.

Myth 2: Any pill works for any woman.

There are many different compositions in different brands of contraceptives because they all have some different effects in addition to contraception that make them more suitable for some than for others. Therefore, it is not reliable to test the brand that a friend takes.

Myth 3: They have no adverse effects

It is false that contraceptives current have no adverse effects. Like all medications, they have advantages and disadvantages. The most serious but rare side effect is clotting disorders, thromboses, and embolisms. smoking, hypertensive or diabetic patients and those over 35 years of age are at greater risk of suffering them, which is why pills are contraindicated in this group of patients.

Other less serious side effects are the appearance of hair or acne in some women, although in others, and depending on what contraceptive it is, it happens the other way around and they are even indicated in the treatment of these pathologies. , or headaches, can be other effects of birth control pills.

Myth 4: pills cause cancer

The relationship between contraceptives taken for a few years and breast cancer has never been proven. If there are small tumors that have not been detected and that are hormone dependent, they can increase in size more quickly by taking pills, but the pills do not produce their appearance. In patients who take the pill for more than 10 years there are conflicting studies on its effects and the.

Multiple studies show that contraceptives decrease the incidence of ovarian cancer by leaving the ovaries resting for long periods of time.

Myth 5: Contraceptives reduce later fertility.

Contraceptives do not reduce later fertility. When you stop taking birth control pills, ovulation usually appears immediately in most women, although in a small percentage of them it may take a few months to appear, often in women who already had previous ovulation problems.

For patients with endometriosis problems, a disease that produces adhesions in the abdomen and therefore can reduce fertility, contraceptives slow down the progression of the disease and can therefore help preserve the fertility of the woman.

Myth 6: They are not incompatible with other medications

Most medications do not interfere with contraceptives, but some, such as certain antibiotics or antiepileptics, do and therefore it is always necessary to consult with the doctor before taking any other medication and to know if the contraceptive efficacy or the concomitant medication decreases.

Myth 7: You are not protected during the bye week.

The week in which birth control pills are not taken in the 21-pill blisters or the placebo pills are taken in the 28-pill blisters, one is equally protected from possible pregnancy. There are women they are not safe and during that week they use extra protection when it is not necessary.

Myth 8: For a forgetfulness nothing happens

The forgetfulness, even if it is a single pill, reduces the contraceptive efficacy of the treatment, so an additional method (usually a condom) must be used to avoid a possible pregnancy.

Myth 9: If you take pills, you can't use other contraceptive methods.

It is not true. Oral contraceptives taken correctly protect very effectively from pregnancies unwanted, but they do not protect against lasso it is recommended that condoms always be used in risky relationships.

Myth 10: You have to take breaks from birth control pills.

Contraceptive pill breaks have not been proven to be necessary. It is very important to make a annual gynecological check-up and an annual analysis to check that blood clotting, cholesterol, sugar, and kidney and liver functions are correct. It should be very clear that if the treatment is interrupted, the contraceptive efficacy disappears.

• Not all contraceptives are the same or are suitable for all women, so each one has to use the one that her specialist recommends.
• They can have adverse effects that should be known and evaluated with the specialist. When in doubt, the first thing to do is get informed.
• Mapfre makes available to its policyholders the one that gives free 24-hour telephone access to specialists to resolve health questions.

If you want information about the consequences of stopping birth control pills .