Birth control pills

Birth control pills: 5 misbelieves

This method of contraception is rather popular with European and American women. Nevertheless many women are suspicious of hormonal contraception. But why? As a rule this is because of some misbelieves concerning birth control pills. Let us see what these myths are and try to prove or destroy them.

Misbelieve 1

Long term use of hormonal contraception can bring about infertility.

This is one of the most spread misbelieves. Actually, the only thing you have to do in order to get pregnant is to stop birth control pills taking (provided you are healthy, of course).  Parous women who stop using hormonal pills become pregnant as easy as those who use another methods of contraception. However, sometimes body needs two or three months for restoration of hormonal balance. What to women who do not have children and are of 30-35: 50 per cent of them need a year to get pregnant regardless of method of contraception they used before.

Misbelieve 2

A woman should have a break from birth control pills to retain the ability to get pregnant.

There is a common erroneous opinion that women should have a break from birth control pills every 5 years. Actually, modern oral contraceptives are a reversible method of contraception and their effect does not depend on duration of their use. Hormones the pills contain do not accumulate in body.

Misbelieve 3

If a woman begins using another method of contraception after long-term birth control pills taking, than her menstrual cycle is likely to stop

Though this (absence of menstruations) happens to 3 per cent of women, it is not connected with birth control pills. In most cases this is the result of various diseases. Another reason can be lack of vitamins and other necessary elements, lack of weight or, on the contrary, extra weight and others. Anyway a woman should not try to guess what is wrong with her female health. She should visit her doctor.

Misbelieve 4

A woman should not overdo vitamin C while using hormonal contraception

This statement is partly true. Big doses of vitamin C (let us say 1g a day) provokes an intensive absorption of estrogen by the body. This is likely to bring about some side effects. By the way, drugs containing paracetamol can provoke side effects either. So those who use such drugs should take birth control pills two hours before or after taking the drug.

Misbelieve 5

This method of contraception is not suitable for women who wear contant lenses

This is partly true. Before birth control pills contained huge doses of hormones and this sometimes affected the shape of cornea of women wearing contact lenses. Modern contact lenses are much softer and birth control pills contain only the necessary minimum of hormones. However, every case is individual, so a woman wearing lenses should consult a doctor before taking birth control pills. By the way, every woman should do this. There are various birth control pills containing different amount and combinations of hormones. Only a doctor can prescribe you hormonal pills suitable exactly for you.