Contraception Myths

Welcome to com301's Community Health and Wellness blog! Our purpose is to help you prevent an accident that turns into a lifetime commitment. This first post is going to be dedicated to pregnancy prevention myths. 

 

According to the Center for Disease Control and Preventing, an unintended pregnancy is defined as, "a pregnancy that is either unwanted, such as the pregnancy occurred when no children or no more children were desired", see CDC: Unintended Pregnancy. An unintended pregnancy has the potential to disrupt many life plans and events, including career and educational goals, travel plans, and family planning. What can you do to prevent an unplanned step in your life journey? 

According to the CDC, most unintended pregnancies are the result of a lack of education and awareness of proper prevention methods and their intended use. The most common error in contraception use is a lack of consistency in contraceptives use. Although we have progressed medically and technologically, there is still misinformation regarded as truth, especially when it comes to sex. Let's talk about some of the most commonly misconstrued methods.  

Does pulling out work? 

 

Couples often feel they are safe from pregnancy after a few “close calls” and rely on insufficient means of contraception like “pulling out”. Not only is this method risky, but it also fosters a false sense of security. Planned Parenthood reports “For every 100 people who use the pull out method perfectly, 4 will get pregnant”, see How Effective is Pulling Out?. How perfect are couples at using the withdrawal method? Planned Parenthood estimates that about 1 in 5 couples using this method will result in an unplanned pregnancy every year. That's about 78% effective. 

 

Can I get pregnant while I’m breastfeeding?

 

The short answer is yes. Although it can be effective if used correctly. Health Link of British Columbia provides three criteria you must meet in order for breastfeeding to be an effective form of birth control.

 

1.     You must not have a period.

2.     You must be EXCLUSIVELY breastfeeding.

3.     Your baby must be 6 months or younger.

If you are unable to meet one of these three criteria, your chance of becoming pregnant while breastfeeding is greatly increased. When used correctly, this method is estimated to be around 98% effective. 

What about the rhythm method?

The Rhythm Method is also referred to as the Fertility Awareness Method. This method requires daily fertility monitoring methods including cervical fluid testing, temperature monitoring, and close attention to the calendar to prevent pregnancy. The goal of this method is to abstain from sexual intercourse during and around ovulation. Planned Parenthood reports that even with perfect use, this method is between 76-88% effective at preventing pregnancy, see Fertility Awareness Method. To increase the efficacy of this method, consulting with a fertility specialist is your best option. 

In conclusion, if you are really looking for good forms of contraception, ask your doctor or midwife to figure out what works best for you. No contraceptive method is a “one size fits all” and we recommend you work with a health care professional to help plan your reproductive life.

Resources

• Unintended Pregnancy
• Preventing Unplanned Pregnancy
• Birth Control Methods
• Breastfeeding As Birth Control

DISCLAIMER:  This is for a class assignment; it is not a real blog.