 Myths about the pill It's a myth that the pill makes you fat, spotty and depressed Weight gain
Weight gain is still considered to be the main reason why women stop taking the pill. One reason why some women may gain weight on the pill is the influence of the estrogen in it which can cause fluid retention. Now there is a pill containing a new progestogen called drospirenone, which can help to counteract this fluid retention. The pill with drospirenone Spots and pimples
It is true that in the past, some types of the pill have made problem skin and acne worse. But today, this need no longer be the case. New types of the pill have been developed which may have a positive effect on the skin. A pill containing the new synthetic hormone, drospirenone, helps to normalise the hormonal imbalance that may sometimes be the cause of problem skin. More about drospirenone Depression
Very severe depression can be made worse by the pill, but this is a relatively rare side effect, which affects a minority of women. Because women who are on the pill see their doctor more often, there is a good chance that women with depressive problems can be identified and helped earlier. (If you feel the pill is making you depressed, speak to your doctor right away). It's a myth that the pill causes cancer5
Artificial hormones, such as those in the pill have been shown to have an influence on some cancers. Cancers of the womb and cancer of the ovaries have now been shown to be less frequent in pill users.5 The effect that the pill has on some types of cancer is complicated. For example, some reports have shown that women who are on the pill are more likely to have a positive cervical smear test indicating pre-cancerous changes of the cells on the cervix. This is thought to be because cancer of the cervix might be considered to be the consequence of a sexually transmitted infection caused by a virus or a combination of viruses which are passed on during sex. A barrier method of contraception, such as a condom or a diaphragm, prevents contact with the cervix and may give protection against cervical cancer. A woman using the pill is not protected unless she uses a barrier method as well. However, if a woman switches from the pill to a barrier method to reduce her risk of cervical cancer, she might have a higher risk of one of the other cancers that the pill has been found to protect against. It's a myth that the pill is dangerous if you're young
It used to be thought that the estrogen hormone in the combined pill might stop young girls growing before they reached their full height. However the tiny amounts of hormone in the pill are not enough to have this effect. Some people think that if girls start taking the pill at an early age, they are irresponsible and are more likely to 'sleep around' and put themselves at risk of STI's. However, making a decision about contraception before sex is more responsible than risking unwanted pregnancy. It's a myth that the pill makes you infertile7
There is no connection between fertility problems and using the pill for any length of time. The contraceptive pill is a truly clinically proven reversible method of contraception as many women who have just come off the pill and become pregnant will testify. |