New myths about birth control are popping up all the time. In fact, many of them have been around for so long that they are mistaken for facts. The local gynecologists at Thameside ObGyn Centre in Groton, CT, are here to help patients weed through these misleading statements and choose a birth control method that meets their needs.

Here are a few common myths associated with birth control that this women’s health center would like to set straight:

• The Pill Causes Weight Gain: Numerous studies have been performed on birth control involving weight gain. For the most part, there is no evidence that birth control causes women to put on weight. However, the Depo-Provera shot seems to be an exception to this rule. A 2009 study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology discovered that this shot could cause an average weight gain of 11 pounds in a three-year period.
• Birth Control Causes Fertility Problems: Many women can use a hormonal birth control for years and still become pregnant immediately after quitting. The only type of birth control that is known to cause delays in conception is the Depo-Provera shot because it can take up to nine months for all of the hormones to leave the body. However, there are accounts of women becoming pregnant shortly after stopping the shot.
• IUDs Are Only For Women Who Have Had Children: IUDs are the most effective method for preventing pregnancy and can be used by all women, including those without children. This misunderstanding stems from gynecologists who suggest IUDs to women after childbirth—when their enlarged cervix and uterus makes the device easier to implant and more comfortable to use. 

Schedule an appointment with a gynecologist at Thameside ObGyn Centre today to have all of your birth control questions answered. You can call the women’s health center at (860) 445-5107 today, or visit them online for more information.