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Common Myths around contraception
The contraceptive pill is considered by many to be one of
the most liberating medical advances of the 20th century. It hit the market in
the 1960s and within two years of its launch, 1.2 million women in America were
using it. Today
approximately 100 million women worldwide use the contraceptive pill. The
pill has been in the centre of various health scares over the many years of its
existence. Which claims had some truth to them? And which were mere scare
tactics? It is time to separate misconceptions, myths and truths from one
another.
Pill Causes Weight Gain
Women who take contraceptive pills have indeed reported
weight gain. However, this does not mean anyone who takes the pill will
necessarily gain weight, as every woman reacts differently. If you gain more
than 5% of your body weight after taking the pill, you should talk to your
doctor about getting a pill containing less oestrogen �
the level of oestrogen in the pill is directly related to water retention,
and thus, weight gain.
Women Shouldn�t Take The Pill Over an Extended Period of
Time
This a common misconception. There's no medical reason to
have a break from taking the pill. Additionally, you should keep in mind that
it is possible to get pregnant straight away when quitting the pill.
The Pill Causes Cancer
This is another misconception regarding contraceptive
pills. Some studies suggest that younger women that take the pill have a
slightly higher risk of getting breast cancer, however, this research is
inconclusive. More conclusive studies show that taking the pill drastically
reduces the risk of ovarian cancer. After a year of taking the pill the chance
of getting ovarian cancer
reduces by 10-12% and after 5 years the risk is reduced by 50%.
Additionally, the combined pill does not only
reduce the cancer risk in the reproductive system but it also decreases the
risk of an ectopic pregnancy.
Combined Pill Increases Headaches
 The combined pill contains synthetic versions oestrogen and progesterone.
When the pill first hit the market, it contained a much stronger dosage of
oestrogen that could cause headaches. However, newer generations of
contraceptives have lower dosages of oestrogen, which made the side effect of
headache less common. However, women who suffer from migraine with aura
might experience an increase in migraines and are advised to refrain from
taking combined contraceptive pills.
Dated 26 June 2014
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