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Birth control pills: not everything you’ve heard is true

It seems that the same old wives’ tales of birth control pills are still popular today. These myths have been passed down from generation to generation and apparently nothing can remove them from the public consciousness. And while some may carry a grain of truth, most of them have been completely disproportionate over the years.

One of the reasons young women still refuse to take birth control pills is because they fear gaining weight. They may also be afraid of having horrible acne, growing facial hair, or enlarging their hips and breasts. None of these fears could be further from the truth. What the pill does is regulate estrogen, which can initially cause some water retention and bloating (much like the symptoms of a menstrual cycle). Changing the dose or waiting for the body to regulate itself, which may take a few months, usually fixes the problem. The pill is generally known to decrease acne, or it may not produce any noticeable change, but it would be unusual for it to suddenly cause it. It also does not produce facial hair or increase the size of the breasts and hips, although these areas may swell slightly.

So why do so many women insist that they have experienced some of these side effects? The likely answer is an inexact cause and relationship. Your body’s hormones are changing, which can temporarily alter your mood. This alone can lead to increased appetite or additional stress, which can lead to weight gain or acne. Another reason could be that they start taking the pill at a young age when the body has not fully stopped developing, meaning larger breasts and wider hips. Our bodies constantly change in small ways throughout our lives, but by changing medications, some people become acutely aware of small differences.

Has anyone ever warned you that taking birth control pills can cause cancer? It seems that almost everything today has the potential to kill you or cause some devastating disease, and again, the problem usually stems from the wrong cause and effect. Do women who take birth control get cancer? Yes. Is it because of the pill? No. In fact, studies show just the opposite. It is estimated that by taking the pill regularly, women are 1/3 less likely to develop uterine or ovarian cancer. There has also been no conclusive evidence linking the pill to increased breast cancer rates. Also, the use of the pill is highly unlikely to cause defects in babies once you are ready to conceive, as long as you stop taking them in advance.

Not all truths about birth control are so optimistic. There are possible side effects that commonly include nausea, headaches, mood swings, sore breasts, and spotting. Many of these can be controlled by changing the product and dosage, or by waiting a few months for the body to adjust. In some rare cases, more serious complications are possible, so it is important to consult with a doctor before beginning.