Birth Control Facts and Myths: An OBGYN Answers Your Biggest Birth Control Questions
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Birth control has revolutionized people’s ability to take charge of their health, pursue their dreams, and decide if and when to start a family. From pills to IUDs and emergency contraception, there are 18 FDA-approved categories of birth control (plus two emergency contraception categories) available to fit all our different goals, bodies, and needs. Yet, despite its crucial role in our lives, myths and misinformation about birth control persist. As an OB-GYN, I see every day how essential it is for people to have medically accurate information about all their reproductive and sexual health care options so they can make informed decisions. At a time when misinformation is at an all time high and attacks on reproductive and sexual health increase, we’re clarifying the top five birth control misconceptions so people can make informed decisions about their birth control options this year.
You do not need a “break” from birth control pills
There are countless posts on social media about taking a “break” or doing a “cleanse” from birth control, and how hormonal birth control is “unnatural” – but this is not helpful advice. If you are on a pill that is working well for you, it is safe to take the birth control pill for years without a break. If you want to get pregnant or are experiencing side effects, talk to a provider about the best way for you to stop the pill. Everyone is different, and not all birth control methods work for everyone, so it may take a couple tries until you find the method that's best for you. And, while we’re here, long-term use of the pill – does not affect your fertility once you stop taking it.
There is no minimum age to get birth control pills over the counter
Last year, the first-ever FDA-approved over-the-counter (OTC) birth control pill, Opill, arrived on shelves. Anyone, regardless of age, gender identity, or location, can get Opill OTC at their local drug store, convenience store, or grocery stores. It is also available online at either Amazon or Opill’s website with no prescription or ID required. Opill is a progestin-only pill, and is a safe and effective option for a wide range of people, including those with certain medical conditions that might make combination progestin and estrogen birth control less desirable. (There are some people who should avoid Opill, like those with breast cancer or certain liver conditions.) It works similar to other progestin-only birth control pills, the only difference between it and prescription progestin-only birth control pills is how you get it.
Hormones are not dangerous
Despite what influencers might say, hormone is not a dirty word. Those assigned female at birth (AFAB) have hormones in their body that regulate menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. And, it’s normal for hormones to fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle. These hormones, estrogen and progesterone, are similar to the hormones found in some methods of birth control. Years of research and use has found these hormonal birth control methods to be safe and effective for most people. Of course, hormonal birth control might not be for everybody, and there are some people who should avoid it. Good news: there are non-hormonal birth control methods such as the copper IUD, condoms, and newer methods like Phexxi. But just because this option isn’t right for everyone doesn’t make it unsafe or wrong for the people happily and successfully using hormonal pills or IUDs.
Menstrual tracking isn’t the most effective
Simply tracking your period on an app or a calendar isn’t effective to prevent pregnancy, and isn’t the same as practicing a fertility awareness method. Fertility awareness methods (FAMs) help you know your fertile days — the days when pregnancy is most possible — by tracking key signs like temperature, cervical mucus, and cycle dates. To use FAMs effectively, it’s best to monitor multiple signs at once, so you know when to avoid sex when you are at risk for pregnancy. Still, even with all the right measures in place, these methods aren’t the most effective because they need to be practiced pretty perfectly, which can be hard for most people. Plus, for fertility awareness methods to be effective, your cycle needs to be regular and between 26 and 32 days long. If your cycle is shorter or longer than that more than twice during a year, fertility awareness methods won’t be effective. If you’re using a fertility awareness method, it is best to use a backup method, such as the pull-out method, condoms or a diaphragm during ovulation.
Certain birth control can double as STI protection
Every year, about 20 million people in the U.S. contract a sexually transmitted infection (STI) – and those are only the cases that get reported. When it comes to birth control, internal and external condoms are the only methods that will protect you against both pregnancy and STIs. If you’re not in a fully exclusive relationship—or if there’s any uncertainty about your partner’s exclusivity—and both you and your partner haven’t recently been tested for all STIs, it’s recommended to use condoms along with any other birth control method. For example, even if you’re on the pill, you’ll still need to use an additional barrier method for STI protection. This combination, known as dual protection, provides added safety.
We know that birth control has empowered people to take control of their reproductive well-being. Birth control is safe, effective, and used by millions of people every year for a multitude of reasons, and that’s why it’s critical to protect access to the full range of contraceptive options. Birth control is health care, and it’s not controversial—it’s essential.
Dr. Raegan McDonald Mosley, MD, MPH is the CEO of Power to Decide, an organization dedicated to protecting sexual and reproductive well-being for all. Power to Decide also runs Bedsider, where you can find more information on safe and reliable birth control. To keep up with Dr. Raegan, be sure to follow @bedsider on social, where she answers people’s burning sexual and reproductive health questions with #AskDrRaegan.
Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue
