Myths About The Pill

There's probably no prescription medicine more familiar than the birth control pill. After all, when a woman says she's taking "the Pill," everyone knows exactly what pill she's talking about.

Since its introduction more than 45 years ago, more than 80 percent of American women have taken the Pill at some point in their lives, and about 11 million are currently on it today. When you add it all up, that makes it one of the most widely used medicines, especially among young healthy women who typically aren't taking many medications.

Couple that fact with the generations of women who have passed down their own personal experiences over the years, and you can understand why so many myths surround this popular method of birth control.

Far and away, the most common myth associated with the birth control pill is that it causes weight gain, according to women's health expert Dr. Valerie Schulz, who recently co-authored a new guide to the Pill on www.thepill.com. "Just as many women actually lose weight as gain weight while on the Pill, and the research shows that, in most cases, the Pill does not cause weight gain," she says.

If you notice weight gain while on the Pill, it is more likely due to fluid retention, or water weight, and is usually temporary and cyclical. So, any noticeable gain usually doesn't last and will tend to ebb and flow.

Many women also may not realize that the Pill has changed over the years, so the Pill that their mother or grandmother based their experiences on was quite different from the ones today.

Most are probably aware that the Pill contains estrogen, a hormone that helps govern reproduction. That much has stayed the same. But there's a second hormone, progestin, that's also included, and there are now lots of different types of progestin being paired with the same basic type of estrogen. Adding a final wrinkle to the equation are different dosage levels of both hormones. Little wonder it can get confusing.

Today, many women take a low-dose Pill. This means the amount of estrogen contained is less than 35 micrograms. Low-dose pills still provide effective contraception, but there can be a trade off particularly in increased rates of unexpected bleeding or spotting - something mom probably didn't have to deal with as much. In fact, some of the newer types of progestin were developed to help lessen this as well as other potential side effects. This form of contraception is not for everyone and individuals with certain medical conditions should check with their doctor before initiating this regimen. Smokers are at particular risk for some of the more serious side effects of taking this medication that include blood clots. In addition, oral contraception does not protect the patient from sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS , genital herpes, and hepatitis to name a few.

To maintain peak effectiveness and lessen side effects, it's also important to take the Pill not only every day, but also around the same time of day. The best way to do this is to make it a part of another daily routine, for example, brushing your teeth. Modern technology can also help - simply set your cell phone or sidekick alarm as a reminder.

Comments

[moderationsmuse]

The biggest myth about the pill is the idea that it's necessary. But then I'm biased. My friend died as a consequence of the pill (cause of death: pulmonary embolism).

[Oread]

I'm sorry, I'm concerned about the amount of hormone remaining in my pee that goes back into the water system and causes deformities like feminization in stream life. Or in humans. You know, that old turnip. I'm sorry, wtf is so wrong with KNOWING WHEN you ovulate and using condoms? I was evil, evil, mean on the pill, they had to give me the mini pill for teenagers I was so whacked out and bitchy. Ridiculous.
And when I came off the pill? Like arrows said. I broke out ALL OVER for eight months. I looked like God had laid a plague upon me, it was horrible. Quitting the pill was the only change chemically, aside from being eight months older. I had huge, painful, rocklike zits on my chest, arms, back, bum, and...othe­r uncomfortable areas. My doc's solution? Go back on the pill! Or better yet, the shot!
Better living thru chemistry can kiss my (now zit free, after two years) ass!

[Mariposa]

I agree, but perhaps on somewhat different criterion. I was on four different types of pills and on all four I was miserable: my heart beat faster, I had blurred vision, more acne, more body hair, more cramps, and numerous other maladies. I don´t believe that the pill is for every woman.

I also don´t understand why women wouldn´t want to have their periods. Yes, they are an annoyance, but I think that a regular period is a necessary indicator of my health.

Basically, I don´t want to mess around too much with my body´s hormones. I would rather insist that my sexual partners use condoms and be more selective in choosing with whom I have sex. And I think that this right to choose how I treat my body and also how my body is treated by others is fundamental to the same discourse that called for the creation of the pill in the first place.

[MissAngela]

I just had my IUD removed, and, very grudgingly, started on low-dose pills. The IUD sounded perfect: no hormones, no remembering (forgetting) to take anything..­.But sex was really painful. After going to doctors and giving it a chance, of four years, I gave up. I like a little pain in my sex life, but not with my cervix.
Although my symptoms are not as severe as above, I have them. I feel sick to my stomach every morning, my breasts are tender- and the idea was to not be/feel pregnant. I'm, for the most part, an even person, but on this stuff I feel like another person sometimes. And I seem to take most of my craziness out on my husband. Oh, and then I quit smoking, which is great, except now I'm twice the crazy, half the fun. Now,
When are they gonna come out with that non-permanent birth control for MEN???

[ieatartichoke]

This came off as an ad for the pill. I'd like some real issues to be addressed. Women who take the pill aren't most concerned about weight gain; the women I know (twenty-somethings) are concerned about the added hormones we're putting in our bodies to stop natural processes. These hormones make some women crazy (I mean depressed, manic, you name it), and I'm talking about the low-dose pill too.

It seems like a growing trend not to take the pill. Is this just my group of friends? I'd like to know how other women my age feel about this.

Sometimes I think about how hard women fought for reproductive rights and to make the pill available to women, but then all around me I see young women concerned and even distrustful of the pill.

[bobert]

I know. This is totally ridiculous.

Every time I've tried to go on the pill (once I took it for two years straight), I have this same problem where I go nuts. I am overly emotional, I make unreasonable demands on my friends and significant other, I gain weight, become incredibly depressed and lose the will to do anything.

I have spoken with my doctor, and then another doctor, and then a gynecologist about these issues. I have asked them what I am doing wrong, and if there's a different pill I can take. Every type/ brand I have tried has produced these results. I have taken low dose to no avail. I simply refuse to ruin a good relationship and further alienate family and friends for this 'convenience'.

I see similar things happening to my friends. They are in wonderful happy relationsips, they go on the pill, they become psychotic and start blaming their guy for everything.

Powerful, illegal drugs do not have this kind of effect on people, why do we keep taking these pills? Is there no better way?

[arrows]

Q: A lot of my female friends complain about acne and break-outs when they come off the pill. What's up with that?