The first birth control pill came to the market in the US in 1960. Despite this, facts about “the pill” are still relatively unknown. That explains the many misconceptions surrounding it! With 11 million American women relying on the birth control pill today, it is vital we understand it. Today we’d like to debunk 5 common birth control myths.
Myth: You will gain weight.
Fact: There is no scientific evidence that birth control causes women to gain weight. Though weight gain can happen when women start birth control, it is often temporary and related to fluid retention rather than extra fat.
Myth: You can’t eat grapefruit while on birth control.
Fact: Grapefruit has a reputation for affecting various medications because it contains chemicals that interfere with an enzyme in the intestines called CYP3A4, which affects how your body breaks down certain medicines. It is thought that grapefruit slows the breakdown of estrogen by the body, making the birth control pill less effective, but there are no studies that prove it has any effect.
Myth: Birth control can cause cancer.
Fact: There is no evidence linking birth control to cancer. In fact, research suggests birth control pills may help prevent some cancers, and other birth control options such as the patch, the ring, and IUD have been shown to reduce the risk of ovarian and uterine cancer.
Myth: Birth control can cause infertility.
Fact: It’s easy to understand why this is a common misconception, as it can sometimes take months for a woman’s cycle to return to normal after stopping birth control. Despite this popular myth, the birth control pill has not been shown to impact future fertility.
myphysician360 is proud to provide women easy access to birth control so that they can take advantage of its many benefits. If you have any questions about birth control and are considering starting or switching brands, order a myphysician360 telemedicine consultation for birth control today to speak with a board-certified physician and start taking control of your healthcare!
