The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday allayed fears and debunked myths regarding the safety and effectiveness of contraceptives as the agency sought to encourage the public to practice family planning.
‘Until now, myths regarding contraceptives continue to flourish,’ the DOH said in a video presentation. ‘Many have become confused and afraid because of these rumors.’
Among the myths surrounding contraceptives that were pointed out by the DOH was the belief that birth control pills can cause cancer, which the agency stressed was not true.
‘Instead of causing cancer, studies have shown that [birth control] pills can help reduce the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer,’ the DOH said, citing a report from the World Health Organization.
The DOH further noted that some people believe that taking birth control pills can lower a person’s sex drive. However, the agency pointed out that there has been no evidence to prove such claims, emphasizing that birth control pills are safe to use.
The DOH also addressed fears regarding ligation, which involves cutting or blocking a woman’s fallopian tubes, noting that some people believe that undergoing such procedure can weaken a person’s body.
‘That’s wrong. Ligation does not cause weakness or hormonal imbalance, nor does it affect a person’s sex drive or weight. It also does not involve removing a woman’s womb,’ the DOH said.
The DOH also noted that withdrawal during sexual activities do not effectively prevent pregnancies, pointing out that one out of five women who rely on such a method become pregnant within a year.
The agency said it was important to spread correct information regarding contraceptives so that couples would be aware of their options when practicing family planning, helping them attain their desired number of children and allowing women to determine the spacing of their pregnancies.
Some of these options include condoms, birth control pills and injectables, which prevent pregnancies in the short term. Long-term options, meanwhile, include implants and intrauterine devices, while permanent measures include ligation and vasectomy.
Previously, the DOH said more than 9 million women in the country were using family planning methods based on data from the agency. However, it also noted that only 0.1 percent of Filipinos have undergone vasectomy despite the measure being 99.9 percent effective in preventing pregnancy. /cb