If you are new to considering oral contraceptives, there are several things you need to know. While there are plenty of benefits to taking oral birth control pills, there are some myths that you have heard that can be of concern. The following are some common myths about oral birth control that you will want to know:

Myth: The Pill Causes Birth Defects

Many women avoid taking birth control pills for fear they can cause birth defects in babies. This is untrue. It has been proven that oral contraceptives will not cause birth defects or harm a baby in utero in any way. You would obviously not need to take the pill while pregnant, but taking the pill before conceiving or just after will not harm your baby.

Myth: The Pill Will Prevent Future Pregnancies

There is often a concern that taking birth control pills can prevent you from having children later in life. Oral contraceptives will not prevent you from having future pregnancies or result in infertility in any way. Once you stop taking the pill, you should be able to get pregnant as quickly as you would have if you'd never used it at all. There are a number of reasons why some women experience infertility—age, hormonal imbalance, and weight gain are a few examples. If you find that you are not getting pregnant, you will need to speak to your doctor and possibly have some tests run to find out why.

Myth: The Pill Will Cause Changes in Weight

Do not be concerned about weight changes when taking the birth control pill. Contrary to popular belief, the pill does not cause weight loss or gain. You may find that your weight fluctuates for a variety of reasons, whether it is environmental or circumstantial. While the pill itself does not directly cause weight gain or loss, weight changes could be attributed to temporary side effects of a hormonal shift caused by the medication. You may notice some water retention that can make you look puffy or bloated. This will eventually go away once your body becomes acclimated to the pill.

The birth control pill is a very popular contraceptive option used by millions of women. There are also plenty of other options available as well. When deciding on your birth control, be sure to speak to your physician to determine which ones are going to best benefit you.

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