

Who Said That?! The Biggest Myths About Birth Control Explored
Birth control makes you gain weight. Birth control causes infertility. Birth control leads to cancer.
The list goes on and on when it comes to the reputation of how birth control (allegedly) impacts the female body. And I'm definitely one of those girls who was afraid to get on the pill, thanks to its seemingly scary reputation. But after doing plenty of research, I've channeled my inner Porsha Williams of RHOA and asked, "Who said that?!" when it comes to these speculations, because most of them aren't true. Yes, every woman's body is different and takes to birth control in its own way. But in essence, birth control isn't the cause for many of the problems we face. Let's get into debunking these myths, shall we?
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It Causes Infertility
One of the reasons I was hesitant to get on birth control was because I had heard horror stories about women who had trouble getting pregnant after they stopped taking the pill or removed some form of contraceptive from their body. This especially held true for a lot of my friends who had taken it in their teenage years with the hopes of attacking their irregular periods head-on. After being on the pill for years, many of them had trouble conceiving once they were ready. It's so easy to point our fingers at the pill because it can take a while to get birth control out of our system (an average of six to nine months). Still, there's no research that backs up the idea that birth control messes with our fertility. One doctor pointed out that if you've started birth control to help treat an issue (i.e. irregular period, endometriosis, or PCOS), the issue will most likely pick up again when going off birth control. That could contribute to problems with conceiving right away rather than the birth control itself.
It Makes You Gain Weight
I don't know how many times I Googled this after I started birth control. It seemed like it made sense to think that birth control was making me gain weight (or making it more difficult to lose it). While it's been said that birth control can cause your body to retain more water (which can lead to larger breasts… hey girls hey!), a doctor shut down the speculation that birth control is a direct cause to weight gain. At the same time, side effects to birth control (like what appears to be weight gain) should go away after about three months of being on the pill. Still, for women like me that were convinced my weight gain was because of the pill (I didn't have any trouble losing weight before and once I got on the pill, it seemed like it was holding on to my body for dear life), a doctor pointed out that this could be because of how your body responds to the hormones in birth control. This has yet to be proven. So for now, the consensus is that birth control doesn't cause weight gain. I'm not fully convinced of this yet.
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You Have To Take It At The Same Time Daily Or It Doesn’t Work
So all this time I guess I could've turned off my alarm set for when to take my birth control. I literally thought I had to take it at the exact same time every day or it would be less effective. Apparently, that's not the case, at least when it comes to the regular birth control pill that's mixed with estrogen and progestin. The ones that only have progestin do have to be taken at the same time every day. To be on the safe side, while it might not be necessary to make sure you have a schedule, it's definitely helpful; especially for the low-dose pill. Although the same exact time every day isn't necessary, it's important to take your daily pill within a few hours from that time each and every day. Breaking away from a schedule or completely missing days could cause breakthrough bleeding or a loss in effectiveness, and ain't nobody got time for that.
It Leads To Breast Cancer
It's easy to see why this myth has been going strong for years. The connection between oral birth control and breast cancer has increased over the years. Still, it's in the myth category because the connection is very low. The truth behind it basically says that the women who are most likely to get on the pill have lower cancer rates. It doesn't necessarily prevent cancer, but you don't have to think that you're welcoming any risk of cancer by taking the pill to put a hold (temporarily or permanently) on getting pregnant. Interestingly enough, birth control pills also have the ability to lower the risk of colon cancer, uterine cancer, and even ovarian cancer. And for those ladies who don't want to take the pill because breast cancer runs in the family, one doctor said that she suggests women in this position to take oral contraceptives considering it lowers the chances of being diagnosed with certain cancers, like ovarian.
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You Have To Stop It At Some Point
Listen, there is no deadline for when you can take birth control. Even though each of us has the right to stop taking it whenever we want (I'm about two weeks out of the game), it's not dangerous at all to stay on the pill for as long as you want. Keep in mind that while it can take a few months for your body to adjust to post-birth control life, you can also get pregnant right away. So it's not the best idea to stop because of fear of being on it too long. Again, no female body is the same. If you do feel like you're experiencing negative side effects associated with your birth control, then it's always best to have a chat with your doctor.
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Charmaine Patterson is a journalist, lifestyle blogger, and a lover of all things pop culture. While she has much experience in covering top entertainment news stories, she aims to share her everyday life experiences, old and new, with other women who can relate, laugh, and love along with her. Follow Char on Twitter @charjpatterson, Instagram @charpatterson, and keep up with her journey at CharJPatterson.com .
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The love compatibility between a Gemini woman and a Leo man is like fireworks going off. You are either in complete awe of the magic that is standing in front of you or asking yourself what all the commotion is. A Gemini and Leo relationship is the couple that stands out in a room, and they are a social bunch. They love to do things together to experience life to the fullest, and they are often grabbing the attention of others.
This is the type of couple to make new friends wherever they go and truly enjoy being in each other’s company. Life will never be dull in this relationship, and if they can get over ego clashes and the need to control, there will be more things keeping this relationship together rather than apart.
What attracts a Gemini woman and a Leo man to each other?
The Gemini woman is attracted to the Leo man's confident demeanor, and Leo is attracted to Gemini's charm. These two are the social butterflies in any setting, so they are often in the same places for a meeting to occur. They have a lot of similarities and interests, a similar sense of humor, and joy for life. The Gemini woman loves to be intrigued and will have no problem getting to know the Leo man. Leo loves to be noticed and well-received and will feel a sense of endearment when it comes to Gemini's keen eye and curiosity toward them.
The Leo man can grab the attention of just about anyone, but can anyone grab the attention of the Leo man? The Gemini woman can. The Gemini woman is not just stunning, but she is also a little unusual, with a high intellect and enough layers to make a Leo man want to know more. Some may warn Leo about the Gemini woman and how he is about to be on a big adventure by diving into this relationship, but Leo doesn't care and has never feared anything, anyway.
What is the relationship like between a Gemini woman and a Leo man?
This is a relationship that can make it long-term if they are both willing to commit and put the work in. Gemini and Leo have instant chemistry, flirtatious energy, and there is a natural spark here. They are the type to not shy away from PDA and are not afraid to express how they are feeling about the relationship. They are open, outgoing, and will love to have fun together and experience life together.
However, both of these signs are high-energy, and at times, energies can clash. Gemini is often in their mind, and Leo is often in their heart (or their pride). Leo will want a type of devotion that Gemini may not be willing to give. It’s hard to grab the attention of the Gemini woman for long because they are always finding new interests and putting their attention elsewhere. After a while, this can feel like the absolute worse for the Leo man, who needs to feel their light is received and appreciated. If Leo is willing to communicate how they are feeling and not expect Gemini to be a mind-reader, and if Gemini is willing to commit to the relationship, this can be a beautiful partnership.
What is the sex like between a Gemini woman and a Leo man?
The sexual chemistry between a Gemini woman and a Leo man is off the charts. These two are adventurous when it comes to this area of life, and they often incline toward doing the deed in more unusual or unique places other than the bed as well. They encourage spontaneity and adventure in each other and have a lot of fun in this relationship. This is not the type of couple to judge each other romantically, and there are no rules or restrictions in the bedroom for them. They both deeply desire passion and excitement and go about their life looking to feel something. Together, they create a safe atmosphere to be vulnerable, to be fun, and most importantly, to be free.
What makes a relationship between a Gemini woman and a Leo man work?
What makes a relationship work between a Gemini woman and a Leo man is their love for life. They both tend to have a more optimistic view of the world and coming together, they can share that vision and enjoy a fun life together. This isn't the type of couple to get bored with each other easily. They also value their independence enough to where they have the necessary breathing room they both need in a relationship to be happy.
Gemini is on a constant quest for inspiration, and Leo inspires Gemini. Personality-wise, this is a great fit in Astrology. Some zodiac signs coming together can bring out the worst in each other, but when it comes to Gemini and Leo, they tend to bring out the more exciting and happy sides of each other. Leo's loyalty makes Gemini feel safe enough to be herself, whereas some of her other partners may have made her feel like she was too weird or quirky for them. Gemini's sense of adventure and curiosity for the world keeps Leo's heart beating, and this is the type of passion Leo looks for in all their relationships.
What may cause a Gemini woman and a Leo man to break up?
Challenges may arise in this relationship when it comes to ego clashes, commitment, and respect. The Leo man needs his ego fed more than the Gemini woman feels comfortable giving, and the Leo man will often crave more devotion in the relationship. The Gemini woman may start to feel controlled by Leo's bold and dominant energy and like they are going against some of their personal values and interests, which is an absolute deal-breaker for Gemini. The Gemini woman doesn't have a problem committing, but she will not be forced into it. This is the type of couple to rebel against each other if things go south, and they can create more separation than connection if it goes too far.
The Leo man will have to let Gemini be herself while trusting that she will respect the relationship while doing so. Gemini is a mutable sign that will often want to switch things up and doesn't mind change. Leo, being a fixed sign, doesn't do as well when it comes to change, and his stubbornness may get in the way of growth in the relationship. The Gemini woman may shake things up in the relationship just for the fun of it, and the Leo man will find this energy distasteful after a while. This won't be a traditional relationship with traditional gender roles, and they must be willing to learn and grow with each other rather than challenge each other's need to make things work here.
Summary
All in all, this is the type of relationship that others look at in public and wish they had something like it. There is something exciting about this connection, and the fun they have together is contagious- you can literally see the spark between these two. Being that both of these signs have a child-like demeanor, this relationship heals their inner child and awakens a part of them they’ve felt like they had to hide in previous relationships.
Geminis, in general, are not always the easiest partner to have or to get to settle down, but if anyone is going to be able to do that, it’s going to be a Leo. If they meet at the right time in their lives and have mutual respect for each other and the relationship, this has all of the potential to work out for both of them.
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