What are some of the most commonly believed myths today? That if you hold your face that way for too long it’ll stay that way? That if you sit too close to the television you’ll go blind? What are some of the most commonly believed myths about hormonal birth control? How about that it takes a month or more for it to be effective? Or that antibiotics cancel out your birth control? Or how about that HBC just isn’t that effective at all? In my column this month, I’m going to bring up some of the biggest, most commonly believed misconceptions about hormonal birth control. No rumors, just facts. And your face will stay that way if you hold it for too long.

Myth #1: It takes two weeks, a month, or more than a month for hormonal birth control to be fully effective.

Fact: Most HBC works the same way: women who start the first day of their period are fully protected immediately; women who start any other time, after 7 active pills. Many doctors may recommend otherwise, perhaps to get patients used to taking a pill every day. While there’s nothing wrong with this, the ultimate source of information is the pamphlet you get with your HBC (Google it to find it online). This is put out by the manufacturer and approved by the FDA. The buck stops there.

Myth #2: I’m not protected during my no-hormone week/I have to use backup protection for 7 days every month.

Fact: As long as you’re using your HBC correctly, you’re protected continuously: through that week and beyond. For combined pills this means at least 21 “active” pills, and no more than 7 days off.

Myth #3: Almost anything about antibiotics and HBC.

Fact: While the evidence is unclear about why, and how much antibiotics interfere with HBC, the current guidance is that some antibiotics interfere with some HBC: interfere, yes, but not cancel out. To find out whether any medication interferes, ask your pharmacist or use an online drug interaction checker. If there’s a conflict, you’ll need condoms or spermicide for the course of the medication and seven days after. Seven days is how long it takes for HBC to be effective, seven days is how long your pamphlet will say to use backup if your protection is compromised, seven days is how long you need (Azithromycin/ Z-Pack is an exception – talk to your doctor!).

Myth # 4: HBC isn’t that effective (my cousin’s daughter’s best friend got pregnant using it).

Fact: With correct use, hormonal birth control is at least 99% effective in preventing pregnancy; the problem is that most women don’t use it correctly. One study found that only 42% of users said they took a pill every day, and only 20% said they took a pill within 2 hours of the same time every day.1 “Those who reported missing pills were more than three times as likely to experience an unintended pregnancy than were women who took their [pills] consistently”2

Myth #5: HBC is unhealthy to be on for long periods of time/can increase your risks of cancer.

Fact: For the average woman, HBC is not only safe to be on for many years, but it can decrease your risk of certain cancers, such as the ovarian cancer. There is some increased risk of breast cancer; you should always discuss your family medical history with your health care provider, and weigh all the factors that can impact your risk for a specific illness.

As always, these are just a few. Don’t sit too close to the television, and let me know what you thought!

1Smith, J, Oakley, D. 2005. Why Do Women Miss Oral Contraceptive Pills? An Analysis of Women’s Self-Described Reasons for Missed Pills. J Midwifery Womens Health. 50(5):380-385 via Medscape http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/513205

2Oakley D, Sereika S, Bogue EL. Oral contraceptive pill use after an initial visit to a family planning clinic. Fam Plann Perspect 1991;23:150-4.