Misconceptions and myths about contraceptive pills

This is one of the most common myths associated with birth control pills. Many people believe that regular use of birth control pills may negatively affect their fertility. 

Fact: There is no evidence to prove that oral contraceptives use can cause women to become infertile. In fact, a study conducted on about 60,000 women who used oral contraceptives suggested that about 20% of all women were able to conceive within their first cycle after stopping the use of the pill and about 80% were able to conceive within a year of going off the contraceptive pill. The rates were not any different from women who were trying to conceive and were not on oral contraceptives.

Experts say that it is not the pill but the age of the woman that affects fertility. Normally women are a bit older when they quit taking the pill as compared to when they start it.

(Read more: Infertility)

It is not uncommon to have heard women complain of weight gain after taking birth control pills. A lot of women think that contraceptive pills make you put on extra weight. 

Fact: Again, experts say that most women gain some weight with age irrespective of their use of birth control pills. There is no clear evidence of the effects of hormonal pills on body weight either. There are some small studies that suggest a slight weight gain - the mean weight gain was about 2 kg in 6 months or a year as per a review study in the Cochrane database. However, most studies don’t find any apparent effects of the pills on body weight. However, underlying reproductive diseases like PCOS can cause weight gain. So, when contraceptive pills are prescribed for these conditions, it actually eases the weight issues and may even make them more manageable.

It is also suggested that if these pills do affect weight, it should have been dose-dependent but no study so far says that increasing the hormone dose causes a higher increase in weight. If you are concerned about weight gain with oral contraceptive use, it is best to talk to your doctor about it.

(Read more: How to lose weight fast and safely)

Yet another common myth about birth control pills is that they can cause cancer of the ovaries, uterus and breasts.

Fact: While there is some evidence that birth control pills increase your risk of getting breast cancer, some experts argue that this risk may not be associated with the use of the pill. They suggest that the risk may have been present in the women already but it was identified early in the contraceptive pill users.

In fact, oral contraceptives have been found to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer in women and the protection lasts for 15 years after a woman stops the use of these pills.

Most of us think of pregnancy when talking about birth control pills since the name itself points to that. However, they are not used just as a means of contraception.

Fact: According to the Center for Young Women’s Health, Boston Children’s Hospital, USA, birth control pills can be taken for the management of a number of conditions. These pills are often prescribed to teenage girls to regularise their menstrual cycles or treat amenorrhea (absence of menstruation). Birth control pills are also used to manage polycystic ovaries syndrome (PCOS), acne, PMS, period pain and endometriosis.

All of these conditions occur due to imbalances in female reproductive hormones - estrogen and progesterone. Since these pills contain synthetic female hormones, they can help balance the hormone levels in the body and provide symptomatic relief from the aforementioned conditions.

Another misconception associated with birth control pills is that for these pills to be effective, you have to take them at the exact same time every day. However, most experts say that is not the case. 

Fact: While timing is a great way to remember taking the pill every day, you shouldn’t stress yourself out over it. Experts say that if you are taking a combined pill - the one that contains both estrogen and progesterone - you are covered for as long as you take a pill every day. However, when it comes to mini pills - the ones that only have progesterone - you will have to be sure to take the pill within a three-hour window every day. Also, if you take the pill after the exact time, make sure that you use a condom until you have used the pill on time for two days straight.

Additionally, not taking a pill at the right time does not mean it won’t work at all. The effectiveness of any contractive method is calculated for perfect use (used in the correct way every time) and normal use (allowing for small human errors, like a pill taken a few hours late). Birth control pills are 91% effective with normal use and 99% with perfect use.

(Read more: Hormone replacement therapy for menopause)

A lot of people think that as long as the woman is taking the pill regularly and on time, there is no need for condoms. 

Fact: There are two reasons that you should use barrier methods of contraception even while on birth control pills. First of all, birth control pills do not prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs). They are just hormone pills that keep you from ovulating and reduce your chances of getting pregnant. Barrier methods like condoms, on the other hand, can protect you from these infections by preventing fluid exchange.

Secondly, birth control pills only work when you take them regularly and certain medications and conditions (diarrhea, vomiting, etc) interfere with the action of the pills. According to the US National Library of Medicine, only 3 out of every 100 women who take the pills regularly for a year get pregnant. So if you want to reduce your chances even further, you can use a condom as well.

Many women believe that using oral contraceptive pills can cause birth defects in their unborn children, especially if they have stopped using the medication only a short duration before they become pregnant.

Fact: Studies show that using oral contraceptive pills does not cause any birth defects like spina bifida in babies. A study published in The BMJ in 2016 looked at birth defect cases and analysed if they were linked with contraception use. The researchers behind this study found that even women with a recent history of contraceptive pill use did not give birth to babies with congenital defects and contraceptive pill use had no effect on the overall prevalence of birth defects. This shows that contraceptive use does not cause birth defects in any way. Other risk factors like malnutrition and drug abuse, however, can lead to birth defects.

Some people believe that taking oral contraceptive pills, especially for long periods of time, can cause many health problems like headaches, asthma and hair loss.

Fact: When someone starts taking oral contraceptive pills, there are a number of side effects that may occur in the beginning. Such side effects, including changes in the menstrual cycle, occasional headaches and nausea, are not long-term in nature - which is why it is unlikely that contraceptive pills would trigger new health issues that you have never experienced before. If symptoms do persist, a simple consultation with a gynaecologist can ensure that you get a different formulation of the hormones present in oral contraceptive pills to better suit your individual health. What’s more, research suggests that there are very few and rare long-term usage side effects associated with oral contraceptive pills. Instead, there are a number of advantages of taking contraceptive pills that boost your overall health. For example, studies show that using contraceptive pills may reduce your risks of pelvic inflammatory disease, endometrial cancer, ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids and ovarian cancer. Taking contraceptive pills can also reduce menstrual cramps and reduce excess hair on the face and body.

Many people believe that contraceptive pill use promotes promiscuity. Others believe that it can affect your sexual desire and may even cause frigidity in women.

Fact: There is absolutely no evidence that suggests that using oral contraceptive pills can affect your sexual behaviour at all. It does not lead to promiscuity or criminal sexual behaviour. In fact, the use of contraception methods like oral contraceptive pills, condoms and dental dams shows sexually responsible behaviour and prevents not just unintended pregnancies but also STIs. 

Similarly, there is no evidence that oral contraceptive pill use can affect your libido or sexual desire. Some women may report changes in their sexual desire or performance but this may be temporary as your body adjusts to the hormones or due to underlying conditions.

(Read more: Low libido)