Myths and Facts About Contraceptives

“You’re what?”…” Pregnant again?!”
“But Tolu is barely a year old na” Tunde screamed, exasperated, as he began pacing the living room in deep thought. Jumoke stood motionless, clinging onto the pregnancy to strip with both hands. Tunde could not believe this was happening to them. They had gotten married barely 5 years ago, and they already had 2 children. The second child, Tolu was just about a year old, he couldn’t believe they were expecting a third child already. Business had been moving poorly at the firm he worked with and some staff had been laid off over the last couple of months. 

His wife’s business hadn’t been turning in much either. 

Thoughts of the possible financial crisis the family was headed for if he got laid off at work and the subsequent possibility of being unable to provide for his home flooded his mind, sending shivers down his spine. Things were already tough enough if they remained exactly as they were, but having another child in this midst of this was like a horrible nightmare playing out in reality. Whatever happened to the contraceptive options their doctor had suggested…”Arrrgh”… He raged inside. True, he slipped up just once, and now this….”Somebody pinch me”
he whispered quietly to himself as he slumped into the couch, burying his head in his palms.

WHAT IS CONTRACEPTION?

Contraception is the deliberate use of artificial methods or other techniques to prevent pregnancy as a result of sexual intercourse. A contraceptive is anything or method that acts to prevent or decrease the possibility of pregnancy or conception as a result of sexual intercourse. 

The desire to control fertility dates back to ancient times and the 21st century has witnessed the adoption of family planning by virtually all segments of the population. With the continuous rise in population, the campaign for contraceptive use has become a necessary undertaking. 

TYPES OF CONTRACEPTIVES:

Contraceptives can be grouped based on how they act:
A. Mechanical or barrier contraceptives: These prevent sperms from getting into the womb by physically blocking it out. Mechanical contraceptives include contraceptives like:

1. Male condom
2. Female condom
3. Diaphragms
4. Cervical caps
5. Contraceptive sponge
   
   B. Chemical contraceptives: These work by killing the sperms as it enters the vagina and before it can get into the womb to fertilize an egg. Spermicides come in different forms like:

1. Creams
2. Gels
3. Foam
4. Pessaries
   
   C. Hormonal contraceptives: These use hormones to stop ovulation  the release of an egg from the female’s ovaries), to prevent pregnancy. These methods include:

1. Pills
2. Injections
3. Skin patches
4. Transdermal gels
5. Vaginal rings
   
   D. Emergency contraceptives:
   Can be used after unprotected sexual intercourse. These include: 

1. Copper intrauterine devices
2. Emergency contraceptive pills (which should be used as soon as possible after intercourse).

E. Sterilization: This is a permanent form of birth control that either prevents the woman from getting pregnant or prevents the man from releasing sperms. These procedures are not reversible, and they must be performed by a healthcare care provider. They include;

1. Sterilization implant; to block the fallopian tube( the path between the ovaries and the womb, through which the egg travels)
2. Tubal ligation; also to block the fallopian tube
3. Vasectomy; A surgical procedure that makes the sperm  unable to leave the males’ testes.

You can speak with a doctor to ascertain the best contraceptive option for you here

HOW MUCH DO PEOPLE USE CONTRACEPTIVES?

According to the WHO, among the 1.9 billion women of reproductive age group (aged 15-49years), worldwide, 1.1 billion have a need for family planning (contraceptives), and out of this number, 842 million are using contraceptive methods while about 270 million have an unmet need for contraceptives.

WHY DO PEOPLE NOT USE CONTRACEPTIVES?

A lot of people do not use contraceptives because many myths and wrong beliefs surround the safety, efficiency, and even the very idea of contraceptive use, creating unnecessary fear and may deter some people from using the most appropriate birth control for them.

Some other people do not use contraceptives because some of the methods may not be convenient for them or are said to interfere with their sexual experience and pleasure. 

SOME MYTHS ABOUT CONTRACEPTIVES:
Some of the common myths about contraceptives/birth control methods are outlined and addressed below:

1.”Birth control is 100% effective”:

No, no not all birth control methods are not 100% effective. There is still a very small chance of getting pregnant while on some types of birth control like male and female condoms, etc.

2. “I’m breastfeeding so I can’t get pregnant”:

This is not entirely true. Breastfeeding may help prevent pregnancy if a woman is within 6 months of delivery, has not had a menstrual cycle and the baby is only feeding on breast milk. All of these must be in place for breastfeeding to be an effective form of contraception. So, a nursing mother should still use birth control if she wishes to avoid pregnancy.

3.”I won’t get pregnant if I douche after sex”:

Douching (the act of washing and cleaning out the vagina) is not an effective method of contraception, as some of the sperms may already have made their way upward and may not be washed out. Likewise, the use of substances like Sprite or other soft drinks are also not effective contraceptive practices.

4. “I don’t need contraception because we only have sex during safe time”:

This misconception has put many couples in trouble of unexpected pregnancy, and the words “but it was during the safe period” has become a very common phrase on the lips of many who believe that sex during the safe period is guaranteed to not result in pregnancy. Sometimes, even during the safe time, a woman can get pregnant because there may be irregularities in the menstrual cycle.

5. “You can use a plastic wrap or balloon of you don’t have a condom”:
This is very false and is not even a safe practice in itself because the materials used in making these items are not meant to serve that purpose. A woman can still get pregnant even if you use a balloon or plastic wrap.

6. “I won’t get pregnant if I take a shower, bath or urinate right after sex”:

This also doesn’t work, as the vagina through which sex is done is different from the urethra, by which a woman urinates. Also, bathing, like douching simply does not work.

7.”Contraceptives can cause cancer”:
This is also very false, as contraceptives do not cause cancer.

These are some of the myths I have encountered about contraceptives as a health practitioner. What myths about contraceptives have you heard about? Kindly let us know in the comments section and spread the word about the myths we have outlined here.