Where do you get your information when it comes to contraception methods? Do you believe what your friends say, do you look on the Internet?
The truth is that the lack of reliable information and the dissemination of myths about contraceptive methods means that more than 250 million women worldwide do not use them, despite wanting to avoid pregnancy, according to the annual report from the United Nations Population Fund.
Some women do not use them because they are not allowed to decide about their bodies or do not have access to contraceptives. Others, with more freedom, have doubts about how they work and the effects they will have on their bodies.
By not using any type of method, they expose themselves to unwanted pregnancies that make the lives of pregnant women even more difficult, especially in areas with severe crises, such as Venezuela.
At Aya Contigowe want to help you make informed decisions. That's why we present you the lies about this topic and what science says about it.
Lies about Contraception Methods
Perhaps the most famous myth about the Pill is that it makes you gain weight. Since its commercialization in 1960, the pill was the first hormonal method to become popular.
Since then, there is a great diversity in their composition. At least 49 studies have compared the effects, and have determined that there is no conclusive evidence that the pill causes you to gain weight.
What has been proven is that it can cause fluid retention during the first two or three months of its consumption. This extra volume usually disappears after that time.
Do Contraceptives Make You Infertile?
A widely known rumor is that you can become infertile by taking the pill to prevent pregnancy. This myth is completely false. There is no scientific evidence connecting infertility with contraceptive use.
Most people can conceive within a few days of stopping the pill. In the case of intrauterine devices or implants, this process may take longer.
Similarly, some injectable contraceptives can also cause a delay in fertility, specifically progesterone injections that are administered every three months.
However, all of these methods are temporary and the person taking them is able to become pregnant when they stop using them, unless there is an underlying condition.
If I take contraceptives, don't I have to worry about pregnancy?
The truth is that there is no device that is 100% safe. If used correctly, the pill is 99% effective. This means that at least one in 100 people will become pregnant within a year of taking the pill. Therefore, specialists advocate combining different contraceptive methods for greater safety.
For example, it is advisable to use condoms, in addition to the method of your choice, to prevent sexually transmitted infections as well. On their own, condoms have a 98% effectiveness rate if used correctly.
The problem is that, due to different factors, such as improper handling and poor storage, the average effectiveness of a condom ends up being 82%.
What is the Most Effective Method of Contraception?
Surgical procedures, such as vasectomy and female sterilization, are the two safest permanent methods of preventing pregnancy.
The difference is that tubal ligation is an invasive procedure that requires general anesthesia, while vasectomy can be performed using local anesthesia.
If we talk about temporary methods, their effectiveness depends on their use. With correct use, contraceptive pills have an effectiveness of 99%.
Similarly, the implant and intrauterine devices, when properly placed, are also 99% effective.
Injections work in 94% of cases, followed by intravaginal rings and patches, with 91%.
The female condom has a 79% success rate and the rhythm method has a 76% success rate.
Remember that at Aya Contigo we are available to answer all your questions. Join our conversation and let us know what your experience with birth control has been.
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