About Birth Control
Birth Control Pill Myths & Facts
The birth control pill is the most popular form of reversible contraception in the United States. Among Pill users, 95% are satisfied with it. Yet some women avoid using the Pill because of common myths associated with it. Before you make a decision, get the facts, and talk to your healthcare professional about which birth control pill is right for you.
All birth control pills are the same.
Not all birth control pills contain the same type of hormones.
Combination birth control pills contain 2 types of hormones — estrogen and progestin. Most
of the currently available birth control pills contain the same estrogen, ethinyl estradiol —
but differ in the type of progestin. The progestin in some birth control pills may cause unpleasant
effects such as fluid retention, breast swelling and tenderness, and acne. However,
not all progestins trigger these effects to the same degree, making it important for a woman to
pay close attention to the type of progestin in her birth control pill. Norgestimate is the progestin
contained in ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN LO (norgestimate/ethinyl estradiol) tablets.
I don't need to take the Pill at the same time each day.
Combination pills, those containing the hormones estrogen and progestin, are more than 99% effective when taken correctly,
which means taking it at the same time each day. Pick a time that's easy to remember, like when you take your vitamins or
brush your teeth. Also, remember that taking pills inconsistently or missing pills may increase your chance of experiencing
some side effects, such as bleeding between periods. Get more tips on how to remember your pill.
Taking birth control pills will make me gain weight.
Numerous clinical studies have shown that as many women lose weight as gain weight while taking birth control
pills. Most Pill-related weight gain is due to fluid retention, which is usually temporary and cyclical.
Before I get pregnant, I need to wait a few months to flush the hormones from the Pill out of my system.
You can start trying to become pregnant immediately after you stop taking the Pill, but you should talk to
your healthcare professional about steps you should take to ensure a healthy pregnancy. You may want to
postpone conception until you can start having regular periods again, simply because a pregnancy can be
dated more accurately if a woman has reestablished her natural menstrual cycle after she has stopped using birth control.
The Pill protects against HIV.
The Pill does not protect against HIV or sexually transmitted diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), using a condom correctly every
time you have sex can greatly reduce your risk of acquiring or transmitting most STDs, including HIV infection.
If I've taken the Pill for a long time, it's probably good to take a break.
Women are staying on the Pill longer. In fact, the Pill can be safely prescribed to healthy,
nonsmoking women over 40, as long as they don't have risk factors that make taking the Pill inappropriate.
How long you stay on the Pill is something you should discuss with your healthcare professional.
 | Download a PDF of Birth Control Pill Myths & Facts > |
Acne vulgaris |  |
Also called pimples, acne vulgaris is the common form of acne that most often affects teens or young adults. It is caused by overactive oil...
Anemia | |
A condition which is caused by having less than the normal number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the...
Birth Control | |
Also known as family planning, fertility control or contraception, birth control includes any practices, methods or devices that are used...
Birth control patch | |
The transdermal patch delivers hormones (progestin and estrogen) through the skin and into your bloodstream to prevent your ovaries...
Birth control pills | |
Also called oral contraceptives, birth control pills are usually small pills taken by mouth for either 21, 24 or 28 days or continuously...
Cervical cap | |
A barrier contraceptive device that consists of a soft rubber cup with a round rim that fits snugly around the cervix. A cervical cap is...
Cervix | |
The lower, narrow part of the uterus (womb), a hollow, pear-shaped organ in the lower abdomen. The cervix opens into the vagina.
Condom | |
Both male and female versions of the condom are available, however, the word most often refers to the male condom. Both are barrier...
Contraceptive or hormone implants | |
Implants are a long-term, reversible means of contraception. Matchstick-sized, hormone-containing rods made of synthetic materials are...
Diaphragm | |
A diaphragm is a soft latex or silicone cup that requires fitting by a healthcare professional. When it is properly fitted and inserted...
Endometrium | |
The lining of the uterus, which is shed monthly in response to hormonal changes that occur during menstruation. The endometrium then...
Ethinyl estradiol | |
A synthetic estrogen used in almost all birth control pills that combine estrogen and progestin. It is also used in other hormonal therapies.
Fallopian tubes | |
Fallopian tubes are the passage between the ovaries and the uterus. They have small hair-like projections called cilia that help transport...
Gynecologist | |
A doctor who specializes in gynecology, the branch of medicine concerned with the health of and treating of conditions associated with the..
HIV | |
Acronym for the human immunodeficiency virus, the cause of AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
Hormones | |
Hormones are natural chemical agents that are secreted by specialized glands (such as the thyroid gland) and regulate the activity of...
Hormone injections | |
Like the Pill and implants, contraceptive injections contain hormones, and they are administered by a healthcare professional at regular...
Intrauterine Devices (IUD) | |
IUD is short for Intrauterine Device- a small device placed in the uterus by a healthcare professional. IUDs are made of soft, flexible...
Menarche | |
Also known as female puberty, menarche is the time of life when menstruation first begins. Menstruation may be irregular and unpredictable...
Menstrual cramps | |
Lower abdominal cramping, usually in the beginning of the menstrual cycle, caused by contractions of the uterus as it expels lining, and...
Menstrual cycle | |
The monthly cycle of changes in the ovaries and the lining of the uterus (endometrium), the process starts with the preparation of an egg...
Menstruation | |
The periodic blood discharge that flows from the woman's uterus. Also called menorrhea. Usually occurring at four week intervals as part...
Natural family planning | |
Natural family planning by periodic abstinence isn't a single method, but a variety of methods that help a couple figure out which days...
Norgestimate | |
A synthetic progestin (hormone) commonly used in combination with estrogen in birth control pills.
OB/GYN | |
OB is short for an obstetrician, a doctor who delivers babies. GYN is short for gynecologist, a physician who specializes in the health...
Ovary | |
One of a pair of reproductive glands in women that produce eggs and female hormones. They are the size and shape of almonds, and located...
Ovulation | |
The release of the mature egg from the ovary in response to a hormonal signal. Most women ovulate 14 or 15 days from the first day of their...
Progesterone | |
A female hormone made in the ovary and by the placenta. Progesterone prepares the lining of the uterus (the womb) to receive and sustain...
Sexually Transmitted Diseases | |
STDs are infections that can be passed from one person to another through any type of sexual contact, including kissing, oral-genital...
Side effects | |
Problems related to a treatment beyond the desired effect or in addition to the desired effect.
Sperm | |
A sperm is the male sex cell which combines with the female egg in the process of fertilization.
Spermicides | |
Spermicides are over-the-counter, nonhormonal chemical foams, creams, jellies, film or suppositories inserted into the vagina up to 15...
Spotting | |
Light bleeding between menstrual periods. Women who are ovulating normally can experience spotting. The use of hormonal birth control...
Sterilization | |
For women, tubal sterilization or 'tying the tubes' involves surgically closing the fallopian tubes to prevent eggs and sperm from coming...
Uterus | |
Also called the womb, the uterus is a hollow, pear-shaped organ located between the bladder and the rectum in a woman's lower abdomen...
Vagina | |
The canal that extends from the cervix to the outside of the body. Vaginal walls lined with mucus membrane, and the vagina, has numerous...
Vaginal ring | |
A soft, flexible vaginal ring about 2 inches in diameter delivers low doses of estrogen and progestin into the body. This helps prevent...
Serious as well as minor side effects have been reported with the use of oral contraceptives. Serious risks, which can be life threatening, include blood clots, stroke and heart attacks, and are increased if you smoke cigarettes. Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects, especially if you are over 35. Women who use oral contraceptives are strongly advised not to smoke. Some women should not use the Pill, including women who have blood clots, certain cancers, a history of heart attack or stroke, as well as those who are or may be pregnant. The Pill does not protect against HIV or sexually transmitted diseases.
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Last modified Dec 04 2007 at 10:41:43 EST