Birth Control: tidbits and facts

Answer 1

A relatively new invention in contraception is THE PILL. The little round pill, smaller than most antibiotics and over the counter pain medication, has been around for more than 50 years, relatively new in the field of medicine. It’s so popular that there has even been a song written about it! Correct, a top 20 country tune was written about the miracle of Birth Control. Loretta Lynn’s 1975 tune The Pill topped Country Music charts as the coal-miner’s daughter sang, Oh daddy don’t you worry none/ ’Cause mama’s got the pill.

Additionally, over 12 million women in the U.S. alone are on the birth control Pill; there are over 40 different brands for women to choose from so it’s easy to find a brand that works best. In fact, birth control is so popular that in one survey, over 60% of men surveyed said that if there was a male birth control pill on the market, they’d be taking it!

Birth control also has a wide variety of side effects, good and bad. The Pill can effectively reduce the harsh effects of menustration, including less cramps and a shorter, lighter cycle. The Pill can also improve skin quality and help reduce acne. The Pill can also reduce your risk for ovarian cancer, and in some studies, has been shown to improve knee strength.

In spite of old rumors, the Pill will not make you fat. While birth control can cause a very slight weight gain (2-5 pounds) the lower estrogen levels in today’s pills are much lower and carry much less risk of weight gain than the original birth control of the 1960’s. Another birth control myth is the idea that once you get off the Pill you cannot get pregnant right away. While this is true for some women, it is in no way true for every woman; if you do not plan to get pregnant once stopping birth control, use a backup method.