Choosing the right birth control method is one of the most important decisions you’d take in your life. One wrong move and you could end up getting pregnant (when you don’t want to) or may get STD’s transmitted to your body. But while picking the right birth control don’t let the associated myths affect your decision. To make it easier for you, we have debunked some of the most common birth control myths that you might hear.
Also Read: 10 Times When You Need to Visit a Gynaecologist
Myth- 1: Birth control pills make you put on weight
This one is one of the most common myths related to birth control pills. Every woman responds differently to different birth control pills. But if you are on a standard birth control pill regimen then chances are that you are not gaining weight because of the pill. If you focus on leading a healthy lifestyle, exercising regularly and eating well you can easily keep any weight gain off the boundary.
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Myth- 2: Birth control pills may affect your fertility
It is also said that once you go off the pill it gets really hard to bring back your fertility and get pregnant. Well, the truth is that it may take a little longer for your fertility to come back but that does not mean that you are infertile and can no longer have children. Doctors suggest that once the ovulation starts you can conceive again. According to the stats, 50% of the women start ovulating in the first after stopping the birth control. The remaining start ovulating in first 3-6 months after stopping the pill.
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Also Read: All You Need to Know About Copper-T for Birth Control
Myth- 3: You can’t get pregnant if you have sex during periods
The egg can be released at any time during your menstrual cycle. The periods though are the most improbable time for ovulation but the sperm can survive in the vagina for about six days. So there are still chances that you might get pregnant if you have sex while on your periods.
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Myth- 4: Breastfeeding may prevent pregnancy
It is a fact that breastfeeding may prevent ovulation for some time but that does not make it a foolproof birth control method. Prolonged breastfeeding may lead to lactational amenorrhea, which means that you won’t get your periods for the first 4-6 months, post-delivery. But even during this time, there are 2-5% chances of you getting pregnant. When breastfeeding it is better to talk to your doctor about the various birth control options.
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Also Read: All You Need to Know About Copper-T for Birth Control
Myth-5: You won’t get pregnant the first time you have sex
This is completely false. The chances of getting pregnant during your first time having sex are just as high as you getting pregnant the hundredth time. All it takes to get pregnant is an egg and a sperm and you can easily get pregnant even during your first sexual encounter.
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Myth- 6: Pregnancy can be avoided if the man pulls out before ejaculation
This one is also not a sure shot birth control method. The withdrawal method involves the extraction of the erect male penis from the vagina before he has an orgasm. It might work 75% of the time but the other 25% times there lies the risk of getting pregnant if you are using only this method as the sole birth control option. This is because the sperms may get released in the vagina even before the man or the woman realise it.
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Also Read: 10 Side-Effects of Birth Control Pills That Doctors Don’t Tell You!
