Toppling Birth Control Myths

Contraceptives are drugs or devices that prevent pregnancy. There are beliefs and methods used by couples and sexual partners to avert pregnancy. These are birth control myths. The following are commonly applied birth control myths influenced by the many. Some of these are effective but mostly, they don’t have medical explanations.

• You will not get pregnant if you will have sex during menstruation period.

It is a false idea. The ovary can release egg during the menstruation cycle. It is the most time for ovulation. Keep the fact that under good circumstances, the sperm can live within the vagina for about five-seven days. However, this depends on the metabolic capacity and longevity of the sperm.

• You won’t get pregnant by pulling the penis seconds before ejaculation. (Withdrawal Method)

Another 60% guaranteed myth. The sperm may be released before your partner may pull it out. You cannot detect if he is about to come. Ejaculation is a physical and emotional uncontrollable feeling. Some sperm are good swimmers. If they remain centimeters away from their target, they will struggle to reach the finishing line.

• Washing the vagina with toothpaste or carbonated drinks after sexual intercourse will eventually remove sperm from the vagina.

This is not true. If you are trying to remove sperm out from the vagina by washing it with water or carbonated drinks, you may only feel uncomfortable. There are good bacteria in the vagina that deserves their habitat thus removing their good functions too.

• Standing up while having sex prevents pregnancy. Sexual positions had nothing to do with pregnancy possibilities. Even if you’re standing while having sex, the meeting of sperm and egg is still possible.

• Woman having first time sex can never get pregnant.

What a false belief! Your chance of getting pregnant is just the same when you will have sex for your 60^th time. As long as your body is ready for ovulation, pregnancy may take place. There is no difference. The vaginal environment is still capable for ovulation.

• Pills for birth control cause breast cancer.

The chemical ingredients of pills are to prevent pregnancy and not cause cancer. It could be that pill combination and its side effects may complicate a benign tumor that is already in your breast. There are studies that some pills are the cause of breast cancer but the bigger percentage of medical studies proved that the risk of breast cancer is not merely caused by pills.

• Pregnancy could be prevented by jumping up and down after having sex.

How funny if you are going to do it frequently. This is a big myth. Sperms are too sticky and too tiny to fall out from your vagina, unlike coins from an open coin purse. Even if semen flows out from the vagina because of jumping, just think about how many sperms remained inside. In one ejaculation there are approximately 300 millions of sperm. Vaginal environment (relative acidity, body temperature, ph levels) and sperm life span is not affected even if skipping rope is done after sexual intercourse.

• Rhythm Method is always effective.

No. Menstruation cycle is always inaccurate in terms of predictions. You can estimate the exact date for it to start but not the ovulation process. Always bear in mind that the sperm can survive for 5 to 7 days inside the vagina. In the menstrual cycle, 14 days after it started, ovulation takes place. It can only be delayed by some factors such as illness, stress, diet or increased physical activities.

• Pills cause infertility.

The main function of the pill is to suppress ovulation. If they are said to bring damage to the ovaries then in medical findings they don’t. According to studies, women taking pills become more fertile after long periods of taking them.

• Use balloon or plastic wrapper instead of condom. They are just the same.

They are not the same. Condoms are uniquely designed for its elasticity with sufficient lubrication applied. Plastic wrappers and balloons are of different function too. You could make balloons out of condoms but never condoms out of balloons.

The discussion is a battle between medical explanation and sidewalk beliefs. Even if science has the ability to elaborate the result of their long-term experiments and studies, cultural practice is more influential.

Above all, you can rely both but the choice you are going to do should not affect your physical and entire sexuality and so with your morality and stand against pregnancy. Fact will remain fact, while beliefs are just beliefs.

 

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