Female friends: Do you understand contraceptive pills correctly?

Oral contraceptives are a form of contraception that many women choose. Conventional contraceptives are 10-15 times more reliable than condoms and 1.5-4 times more reliable than IUDs. They are internationally recognized as the most effective contraceptive method. However, in our country, due to the lack of publicity on the correct use of contraceptives, many women often have many misunderstandings about contraceptives.

Misunderstanding 1: Can you get pregnant only after stopping the medication for 3-6 months?

This view only applies to long-acting contraceptives that have been eliminated. As for short-acting contraceptives, there is no clinical research, either in China or abroad, to prove that it is necessary to stop taking the drug for 3-6 months before becoming pregnant. If you want to get pregnant, just stop taking birth control pills.

Myth 2: Increased risk of certain gynecological cancers?

Experts point out that people's main concern about the risk of cancer is estrogen. In fact, studies have found that the longer you take birth control pills, the lower your risk of endometrial cancer. Taking birth control pills for 5 years can reduce the incidence of ovarian cancer by 50%, and this protective effect can last for 10 years after stopping the medication.

Myth 3: Gain weight?

Early oral contraceptives contained large doses of estrogen and a single progestin, which could cause side effects such as weight gain and freckles in some users. But with the development of technology, these problems have been solved. Several well-known brands of short-acting contraceptives currently introduced in China, such as "Marvelon", do not cause the problem of weight gain.

Misunderstanding 4: Will it cause fetal illness or deformity?

This is also the biggest misunderstanding many women have about the side effects of birth control pills. Medical research around the world has found that the proportion of deformed offspring after women who have taken birth control pills are basically the same as that of women who have not taken birth control pills. So far there is no evidence that congenital malformations are related to birth control pills.

Myth 5: Will long-term use lead to amenorrhea?

In fact, taking birth control pills correctly will not only prevent amenorrhea, but can also adjust the menstrual cycle and relieve symptoms of dysmenorrhea and excessive bleeding. For women suffering from acne-prone skin, taking birth control pills can also help improve skin condition. Gynecologists in many hospitals will prescribe a small amount of contraceptive pills to help regulate the symptoms of menstrual disorders for patients who do not need contraception and come to see a doctor simply because of menstrual cycle disorders, depending on their physical condition.

Myth 6: Reduce female fertility?

Doctors from many hospitals have stated that the strength of fertility is actually related to one’s age. Many women take birth control pills as a means of contraception when they are young. When they decide to stop taking the medication, they are often already quite old, and the chance of pregnancy will naturally decrease. This is why people have the misunderstanding that birth control pills affect fertility.