The 5 Contraception Myths Every Woman Needs to Know

By Hattie Crisell

Despite the fact that many of us think about it on a daily basis, we don't often talk about contraception. With 79% of the UK's unplanned pregnancies happening to women over the age of 19, it's not just teenagers who need to know the facts – so where's the unbiased information we want? 4Beauty debunks five myths that might change the way you tackle your fertility.

Myth #1: You Need a Week Off the Pill Each Month

The leaflet that comes with popular combined pill Microgynon 30 tells you to take a pill a day for 21 days and then have seven days off. Experts now say that this monthly break is unnecessary.

"60% of women have an egg ready to go on the last day of the break, so if they start their new packet a couple of hours late, that egg will be released and they may get pregnant," explains Dr Tina Peers, a sexual health and contraception consultant working in Surrey.

"These days we believe it's much safer for women to run three packets together and then have a four-day break - or if you're on the lower dose of 20-microgram pills, you can take it continuously and have no breaks at all." The benefit is fewer and shorter periods, plus a lower chance of getting pregnant.

Myth #2: After a Few Years You Should Come Off the Pill

Have you ever come off the pill for no reason other than a hunch that it might be bad for you? There's no need. "So long as you meet the criteria for suitability for the pill, it's very good for you," says Tina. "It reduces your risk of anaemia, painful heavy periods, benign breast disease, colorectal cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, ovarian cancer and uterine cancer - all this as well as being good contraception."

"We now have such safe, low-dose pills, there's no need to take a break - and in fact it's dangerous, because women often get pregnant on a pill break. Even if your relationship ends, you're probably better off staying on the pill."

Myth #3: Women Who Haven't Given Birth Can't Use IUDs

"There's a widespread belief that women who haven't had children can't have an interuterine device [a contraceptive that's placed in the uterus]," says Tina. "Unfortunately a lot of doctors and nurses mistakenly believe it too, so women may be denied a contraceptive that would be perfect for them."

"We see a lot of young women who have terribly heavy painful periods, and they should be offered the Mirena, an interuterine device containing hormones and no copper. It reduces PMT, stops your periods and you can keep it for five years."

Some women experience brief pain or lightheadedness during the insertion of a Mirena, so it's best to take painkillers beforehand and make sure you've eaten. Some GPs and nurses are qualified to fit it, but you may prefer to visit a contraceptive clinic, where doctors will be more experienced in this area.

> Find Your Nearest Contraceptive Clinic

Myth #4: Contraception Isn't Important for Women Over 35

Unwanted pregnancy is not something that only happens to teenagers. In 2009, almost 27,000 women over 35 had abortions in England and Wales.

This may be partly because, as we enter our late 30s, 40s and beyond, we assume our fertility has declined. "It does drop off from about 35, but not so much that you don't need to use contraception," says Tina. "I have women come and see me every month who say they're not using anything because 'I'm not going to get pregnant at my age'. If you're still having monthly periods, you could still get pregnant."

Myth #5: Your Natural Cycle Is Best

"A lot of modern contraceptives stop you bleeding," says Tina. "Some women are uncomfortable with that because they feel it's important to have a monthly bleed. That's not the case. You do not have a build-up of the lining of your uterus if you're taking a contraceptive, so you don't have to bleed - and that's perfectly safe."

There's also no need to feel uneasy about interfering with your hormones. In Tina's view, "Periods are passé! The modern woman starts menstruating at a young age, doesn't have very many children and lives a long time. If she didn't use a hormonal contraceptive she'd spend seven years of her life on her period. There's no medical reason to put ourselves through that."

> Get More Information on Contraception