Monday, June 22, 2015
10 Surprising Things You NEED To Know About Birth Control
1 Can Be Used As Long As You Want
It's a myth that you should stop taking the pills after so much time. Unless your doctor specifically advises this for you, healthy women who don't smoke can safely remain on birth control pills for as long as they'd like, even through menopause.
2 It's Up to You to Monitor Side Effects
All brands of the pill are equally effective at preventing pregnancy, but that doesn't mean they're all best for your body's specific needs. Gynecologists prescribe the pill they have the most experience with or the one they currently have free samples of in the closet so don't expect any one pill to be the "perfect" fit for you.
3 The Pill Doesn't Cause Weight Gain
This is a common myth about the pill since early versions of it may have caused some women to gain weight. Women can experience bloating or stomach distention when they switch or go on or off their birth control, so it's important to talk about this with your healthcare provider if it happens.
4 Take Them EVERY Day
Every year, fewer than 1 in 100 women will become pregnant if they take the pill every day. However, 9 in 100 will if they don't manage to take the pill daily. Women often absorb the message that the pill is practically 100% effective but that is only the case if they take it precisely as directed, day-in and out.
5 It's Free
The Affordable Care Act has a contraceptive mandate that requires most private health insurance plans to cover birth control without a co-pay or deductible. This makes it free for all who have insurance.
6 Plan B is NOT the Abortion Pill
There has been a lot of confusion about emergency contraception. Pills like Plan B are an emergency way for women to prevent pregnancy for up to five days after they've had unprotected sex (although effectiveness decreases the longer women wait). This does not terminate a pregnancy that is already in process.
7 IUDs are the Best
Althought pills are the most popular form of contraception, a recent study published has found that intrauterine devices (IUDs) are 20x better at preventing unintended pregnancies than the birth control pill, patch or ring.
8 Male Birth Control
Both hormonal and non-hormonal birth control options for men are on the way, with research efforts supported by high-profile groups such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Scientists recently discovered a molecule that dramatically lowered sperm counts in mice and that could, one day, be used in humans
9 Don't Mix the Drugs
It is important to remember that birth control is not a super pill. It is the same as any other drug and it is important to remember that some drugs don't mix well with others. Your hormonal birth control pills could be offset or cause serious side effects if paired with the wrong thing.
10 You Can Get Pregnant Directly After Stopping
Some women may experience a gap between when they stop using contraception and when they begin ovulating, but for the most part if you're trying to get pregnant, stopping your birth control should be effective. It is important to discuss this with your healthcare provider and understand that it's possible that you may not get your period right away for a few months.
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