Contraception: Myths, Facts and Fun Facts

Contraception: Myths, Facts and Fun Facts

by | Oct 7, 2025 | Pill

Contraception: Myths, Facts & Fun Facts – What You Really Need to Know!

Contraception affects us all – but how well do you actually understand it? Did you know, for example, that 85 out of 100 women will become pregnant within a year without using contraception? Or that a condom, according to German industry standards, must withstand 18 litres of air before bursting? 😲

Whether you prefer hormonal contraception, barrier methods, or natural alternatives, there are countless fascinating facts, bizarre historical methods, and persistent myths about birth control. Let’s explore the truths, misconceptions, and some rather unusual contraceptive practices from the past!

Contraception Through the Ages – Some Truly Unusual Methods

For thousands of years, people have been trying to prevent unwanted pregnancies – sometimes using rather questionable methods:

📜 Ancient Times:
✔ Egypt (circa 4000 BC): Women inserted a mixture of honey, sour milk, and soda into the vagina.
✔ Ancient Greece: Some believed that specific sexual positions, magic amulets, or even sneezing after intercourse could prevent pregnancy.
✔ Animal-based barriers: As early as 3000 BC, the first condoms were made from animal intestines or fish bladders.

🎩 19th Century:
✔ Women used vaginal douches after sex to “wash out” sperm – not very effective!
✔ Condoms made from cotton or animal intestines were the most common barrier method.

And today? Thankfully, modern contraception is far more reliable!

Fun Facts: Contraception Like You’ve Never Heard It Before!

😲 Some fascinating and unexpected facts about birth control:

✅ Did you know…
💡 … women who take the pill blink 32% more often on average? The hormone changes can cause drier eyes!
💡 … in Germany, 342 condoms are used every minute?
💡 … Carl Djerassi, the inventor of the contraceptive pill, chose to have a vasectomy?
💡 … frogs were used as pregnancy tests in the 1940s? A woman’s urine was injected into a frog – if the frog produced eggs or sperm within hours, the woman was pregnant! 🐸

 

How effective are different contraceptive methods?

The Pearl Index is used to measure how reliable a contraceptive method is. The lower the number, the more effective the method. But what does this actually mean?

✔ A Pearl Index of 1 means that out of 100 women using the method for a year, one will become pregnant.
✔ Hormonal methods, such as the pill, hormonal IUD, and contraceptive injection, have a Pearl Index of below 1, making them highly reliable.
✔ Condoms have a Pearl Index of 2 to 12, meaning that up to 12 out of 100 women will become pregnant despite using them.

So, contraception is not always as foolproof as many people assume!

Common Contraception Myths – What’s Really True?

🚫 “Contraception is a woman’s responsibility.”
❌ Wrong! While women have more contraceptive options, birth control should be a shared responsibility in any relationship.

🚫 “You need to take a break from the pill.”
❌ False! Medical studies show that taking a break offers no health benefits – in fact, it increases the risk of an unintended pregnancy.

🚫 “The pill increases the risk of thrombosis.”
✔ That’s right – the pill does come with a range of side effects, and for certain risk factors like smoking or being overweight, one of them is an increased risk of thrombosis. If you’re unsure, it’s best to speak to your doctor.

🚫 “The pill affects fertility after stopping it.”
❌ Incorrect! Fertility usually returns to normal within a few months. However, long-term pill use can lead to a folic acid deficiency, which may increase the risk of miscarriage. Experts often recommend taking folic acid and other key nutrients while using hormonal contraception.

Good to know

Whether you choose hormonal, barrier, or natural methods, every woman has the right to make informed choices about her body. Modern contraception offers many options, but staying informed and supporting your overall health is just as important.

💊 For women using hormonal contraception, supplementing with key micronutrients can be beneficial, as some contraceptive methods increase the body’s need for certain vitamins and minerals.

👉 Resilovit®pill supports your body with essential nutrients and can help compensate for deficiencies caused by hormonal contraception.

Why is contraception so often a women’s issue?

Why is contraception so often a women’s issue?

by | Oct 25, 2024 | Pill

Why is contraception so often a women’s issue? A look at shared responsibility.

In many partnerships, the issue of contraception is automatically associated with the woman. But why is this? Is it because women have a wide range of contraceptive methods to choose from, while men are limited to condoms or vasectomies? Or is it force of habit? Or is it the consequences of pregnancy that encourage women to take responsibility?

What methods of contraception are available?

The reality is that women have a wider range of contraceptive methods available to them, including hormonal and non-hormonal options such as the pill, the IUD, the condom and more. While some women do well with hormonal methods, others struggle with side effects. This is partly because hormonal contraceptives impact so many different aspects of our bodys and minds, affecting how we feel far beyond their contraceptive effect. It is therefore important to decide which method is best for you.

Is contraception still a woman’s issue?

Historically, women have often had the primary responsibility for contraception, but this dynamic has changed in recent years in many parts of the world.

Nowadays, responsibility for contraception is often a shared decision between partners, and both can be involved in choosing and using contraception.

Data from the Federal Centre for Health Education show that contraceptive behaviour has changed in recent years. More young people are using condoms, leading to a more equal distribution of responsibility. However, women still have more options, which means that they often bear the main responsibility. The fact that there are fewer contraceptive options for men obviously plays a role.

Why are there no better contraceptive methods for men?

One reason is that there has simply not been a lot of investment in research and development of male contraceptives. Although there have been some promising approaches, no really reliable contraceptive methods for men have yet been developed. The condom therefore remains the best option for men to prevent unwanted pregnancy and protect themselves from sexually transmitted diseases.

But contraception is not the sole responsibility of women. It is time to share the responsibility more equally between the sexes. Through open communication and a willingness to learn about different contraceptive methods, couples can work together to find the best solution.

What about you? Share your experiences!