The Pill – Just the Facts – Birth Control Pills – Oral Contraceptives
Do birth control pills cause weight gain? Should women take occasional breaks from oral contraceptives? While the majority of women who participated in a nationwide survey of women aged 18 to 35 believe the answer to these questions is “yes,” the fact is that the answer to both of these questions is “no.” These are some of the myths that affect how millions of American women think about and use birth control pills. “It’s very important for women to be educated about the birth control pill so that they are able to base their contraceptive decisions on facts, not myths and misinformation,” said A. George Thomas, clinical associate professor, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York City. “After 40 years of use, we take for granted that women are fully informed about the Pill, but I find that many of my patients are not. The survey results confirm that we need to do a better job educating women.” Does the Pill protect against HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases? No.
