Birth control is simply a way of life and the easiest and most cost-effective method is oral contraception in the form of the birth control pill.  It’s a scary proposition for anyone to consider, especially an 18-year-old who comes in for birth control information and wanting to take control and responsibility for her sexual health.

Here are the top 6 myths regarding the oral contraception:

•  Will birth control pills make me fat?

The scale may show a 1–3lb weight gain but studies show that this is a temporary side effect due to fluid retention and tends to go away after the first 3 months.  A review of the medical literature shows that there is no evidence that the birth control pill causes weight gain in the vast majority of women.

• Does long term pill use affect fertility?

There is NO connection between taking the pill and infertility. Fertility can return almost immediately after stopping the pill, which is why it’s important not to miss pills. Some women may face a delay in becoming pregnant after stopping pill use, especially if they had irregular periods before starting it. Women using the pill may delay childbearing until their late 30s, a time when natural fertility has waned, thereby confusing pill use as the cause for not becoming pregnant rather than age. Also, a woman may have always had a fertility problem but was unaware of it because she was not trying to get pregnant.

• You Should Take a Break from the Pill Once in a While

There’s no medical reason for a healthy woman to take a break from using the pill. Experts say the pill can be taken for 15 or more years consecutively without any increased risk. However, doctors do advise reviewing contraceptive needs after 15 years of using the pill or at age of 35. The pill is one of the most effective contraceptives, so taking a break from it may increase your risk of getting pregnant (if you’re sexually active). In fact, it’s possible to get pregnant immediately after going off the pill. Taking a break can also cause some of the side effects that can be felt when first starting the pill.

• The pill is always effective immediately after you begin taking it.

In some women, one complete menstrual cycle is needed for the hormones in the pill (oral contraceptive) to work with the woman’s natural hormones to prevent ovulation. Some doctors recommend using a back-up method of birth control the first month of taking the pill.

• Can the pill hurt my sex drive? 

Medical research regarding the pill and sexual function are conflicting.  The pill can lower a woman’s sex drive but the effects vary among them. The pill does lower the testosterone in the body which may reduce sexual desire for some women yet for others it has no effects on libido.  If you notice a negative change in sex drive, you should contact your healthcare provider to change to another type of birth control or to a different formulation-lower dose, different estrogen/progesterone combination and rule out other causes-mood problems, thyroid dysfunction or other medications that can have the same effect on sex drive. 

5. Am I at increased risk for breast cancer if I take the pill?

Of all the cancers that women are concerned with in relations to taking the pill, breast cancer heads the list.  The numerous studies that have been done show that oral contraceptive use does not significantly increase your risk of developing breast cancer.  In regards to female related cancers, the pill reduces the risk of developing ovarian cancer by as much as 50 percent.

Being aware of the side effects of oral contraception, having patience and communicating with your health care provide is the key to finding success with oral contraception The good news about the pill in 2013 is that the levels of estrogen and progestin are at their lowest amounts, still providing a fantastic form of birth control while minimizing the side effects.