The topic of hormonal birth control can be controversial. Between what you read and see online and what your friends and family might tell you, there is so much misinformation swirling out there about birth control. Because of that I think its important here and now to debunk some of the myths surrounding the use of birth control.
Overview of Hormonal Birth Control
First a quick overview, hormonal birth control come in many forms - pills, patch, ring, injection, intrauterine device, arm implant. These can contain either the hormones of estrogen and progestin combined or progestin alone. Also its important to know that hormonal birth control is not for everyone and it is important to talk to your doctor about if it is right for you.
However, if it is something you have decided on or are considering, I am here to dispel a few of the myths you may have heard about these medications.
Myth #1: Birth control causes weight gain
Only one birth control form has consistently shown to cause weight gain in most who use it and that is the injection. And even so, with that you might gain only about 5 pounds in the first year of its use. All of the other formations of hormonal birth control do not cause a persistent weight gain. However, in the first 2-3 months on any new hormone medication you may gain temporary water weight that will then go away.
Myth #2: Birth control causes infertility
There is no long term fertility issues caused by using birth control. That’s just not how birth control works. What birth control is doing is stopping the creation of a dominant ovarian follicle also known as stopping ovulation. Some also make your cervical mucous thicker to stop the sperm from reaching your egg and also make the lining of the uterus thin to impede implantation of a fertilized egg. And when you stop birth control it all comes back very quickly. The only exception is the injection which after stopping use can take up to a year for your natural ovulation to return.
Myth #3: Birth control is only for preventing pregnancy
Hormonal birth controls are used for so many things. I think this is especially important for parents to know as I see many parents hesitant to start birth control on their children thinking it is only for pregnancy prevention. But that’s so far from the truth. It can be used for acne management, to control heavy and painful periods, to regulate an irregular menstrual cycle such as with those that have PCOS and is even used to ease the menopause transition later in life.
Myth #4: You need to cleanse from birth control
As a medication, birth control is out of your system very quickly after discontinuing it. No cleanse or detox needed. The ability to become pregnant, for example, resumes in a few days after stopping use for most people and for most formulations of birth control.
And there you have it. A few things that I know you have heard about hormonal birth control and why these are actually myths and not fact. For any medication it is important to understand the risks and benefits before starting and especially how they may apply to you. So do your research, talk to your doctor and have them help you choose the best method for you.
DISCLAIMER: Features published by Adaaba are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. Always seek the advice of your GP or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health-related programme.
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