Reminisce with me: about that awkward moment when things start getting hot and heavy… and then you realize you have to address the birth control issue. We have all been there – asking ourselves if we remembered to take all of our Pills on time, wondering if he has a condom, contemplating whether the odds, or the gods, will be with us or against us if we decide to risk it.
Safe sex is good sex. Right now, I’m sure the last thing any of us want to worry about is a STI or pregnancy. This being said, I am shocked by the number of myths and misconceptions I hear from people – St. Olaf students included – about birth control methods.
Part of the blame for many of the misunderstandings stems from a sex-ed system that is focused on abstinence. I don’t want to knock abstinence; it is a perfectly valid choice for a lot of people and is truly the only way to completely 100% avoid pregnancy. Okay, public service announcement over. For those of us who would rather do the tango between the sheets than keep it PG, it is really important to be knowledgeable about birth control methods and the options open to us!
Myth #1: Birth control pills can make you fat and really bitchy.
This is only partially true. The Pill is a hormonal supplement that prevents ovulation. Because it changes your natural hormone levels, it can [rarely] cause weight gain and abrupt changes in emotion. The good news: if you go on the Pill and have one of these side effects, there is a way to fix it! Different types of Pills contain different levels of hormones, so if you don’t like one, try another. Other hormonal birth control options also exist, such as the Ring, which provides a small but steady dose of hormones and only has to be replaced once a month.
Myth #2: If a girl is on the Pill, you don’t need to use a condom
This myth has really found roots within the St. Olaf population, which is, quite frankly, somewhat terrifying. I think that because the student population of Olaf is a fairly low-risk population for STI’s, people tend to primarily be worried about the risk of pregnancy, and, in that case, condoms seem less than necessary if another birth control method is in use. I am going to straight-up ask you: please, always use a condom. Many STI’s have no visible symptoms. They can be passed along before you even know you are infected. Also, no birth control is 100% effective against pregnancy, but your odds are definitely better at avoiding it if you combine methods!
There are so many other myths and misconceptions about birth control, abortion, and issues of women’s reproductive health; I cannot even begin to address all of them! I confronted these myths because they are ones I have heard often around campus. If there is another myth you have heard that you would like addressed, or any questions or comments you have about the blog, please feel free to click “Post new comment” below and leave me some feedback!
Stay strong, smart, and sexy St Olaf
-H.