WOMENS-HEALTH Messages for July, 1998: Pill Myths

Pill Myths - for pill users to reply

From: Thomas (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri, 31 Jul 1998 13:07:29 -0500 (CDT)

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I've read in women's magazines (my other half's) and heard from patients many myths about the combined oral contraceptive pill. I have had to answer a lot of questions about the pill in the last few days and am interested in hearing from women who have also been misled by these untruths. Here they are;

MYTH: The pill puts a woman at risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). TRUTH: The pill doesn't protect against many sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV in the way that condoms do but it does protect against pelvic infection and gonorrhoea. In other words, women on the pill have less STDs than women using no contraception. PLEASE NOTE THAT WOMEN NOT IN A MONOGOMOUS RELATIONSHIP ARE ADVISED TO USE CONDOMS OR FEMEDOMS TO PROTECT AGAINST SEXUALY TRANSMITTED DISEASES.

MYTH: Long term usage of the pill decreases a woman's fertility. TRUTH: This is just not true.

MYTH: Fibroids may grow when taking the pill. TRUTH: This is not true. In reality the pill protects against fibroids.

MYTH: Women with benign breast disease should not take the pill. TRUTH: Contrary to the myth, the pill protects against benign breast disease.

MYTH: Some women stop having periods as a result of taking the pill and stopping it. TRUTH: This used to be called Post Pill Amenorrhoea (PPA) by doctors. Doctors now realise that this does not exist. Women on the pill do not have periods. They have withdrawal bleeds. When stopping the pill they start to have periods again. If something has occurred that would stop periods while taking the pill, this is often masked by the withdrawal bleeds and only becomes apparent when stopping the pill. It is not the pill that causes it. It is stopping the pill that makes it apparent.

MYTH: A girl / young women should not take the pill if they have just started menstruating. TRUTH: This is just not true.

MYTH: The pill makes a woman more likely to have thrush. TRUTH: This is not true. However, if stopping using condoms, then a woman is more prone to developing STDs. (THRUSH IS NOT AN STD BUT MAY BE CONTRACTED SEXUALLY)

MYTH: A woman with epilepsy should not take the pill. TRUTH: This is not true. However, epileptics on some types of drugs need a stronger pill.

MYTH: You should have a break after being on the pill for five years. TRUTH: Not true.

MYTH: You should not go on the pill if you have had high blood pressure in pregnancy. TRUTH: Not true but you do need careful monitoring

MYTH: Women over 35 should not take the pill. TRUTH: This is true if you are a smoker. Else the pill is OK up to the age of 50.

MYTH: A woman should stop the pill after 10 years in total. TRUTH: Not true.

MYTH: The worst time to miss a pill is mid-cycle. TRUTH: The worst time to miss a pill is at the beginning of the packet or at 21 days. Missing a pill between 8 to 13 days probably doesn't matter. (NOTE THE WORD PROBABLY. THIS IS NOT FACT NOR ADVICE BUT JUST SCIENTIFIC THEORY).

--
Dr Thomas Ind MB BS MD MRCOG
St George Hospital
Kogarah
Sydney
NSW 2217
AUSTRALIA

Next message: Mary: "Re: Methods of contraception - for contraceptive users to reply"
Previous message: Suzanne: "Re: Methods of contraception - for contraceptive users to reply"
Next in thread: Marcia: "Re: Pill Myths - for pill users to reply"
Reply: Marcia: "Re: Pill Myths - for pill users to reply"

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