# 8 Birth Control Myths

- Link: https://stayathomemum.com.au/family/parenting/birth-control-myths/
- Published: 2019-08-02T13:00:06+10:00
- Author: Clare Whitfield

## _Here are 8 birth control myths to be aware of, just so you know you’ve got your facts straight._

> It’s important to get the right information regarding [birth control](https://stayathomemum.com.au/my-kids/birth-control-options/the-most-recent-developments-in-birth-control/)
> methods, their rates of effectiveness and their suitability to your lifestyle.
> After all, you know what they call people who don’t get birth control, right? 
> Parents!

## **MYTH 1: Breastfeeding prevents pregnancy

It’s true that prolactin, the same hormone that produces breast milk, suppresses
ovulation, and without an egg, you cannot get pregnant. But the circumstances have
to be incredibly accurate and most women are not able to read their own hormone 
levels so accurately that they can’t determine whether they are producing sufficient
amounts of prolactin.

You must follow some strict guidelines if you want to use this method. Your baby
needs to be under 6 months old.

You can’t have restarted your period and your baby must be getting 90% of their 
nutrition from your breast milk (no less than 6 feeds per day). Most gynaecologists
tend not to recommend women to use this method because the slightest change in breastfeeding
routines (i.e., you’re ill, your baby is ill, you miss a feed, etc.) can alter everything
and all bets are off!

[⌊Birth control myths | stay at home mum⌉⌊Birth control myths | stay at home mum⌉[

## **MYTH 2: You can’t get pregnant**** if you’re using 󠀁[contraceptives](https://stayathomemum.com.au/my-lifestyle/a-history-of-contraception/)󠁿**

OK, so the whole point of using birth control is to prevent pregnancy, but no birth
control method, apart from abstinence, is 100% effective. Most unplanned pregnancies
occur because women, or men, have not used the birth control “perfectly”, consistently
and correctly. Everybody knows somebody who knows somebody who has fallen pregnant
after having their tubes tied, or after hubby got the snip. There are even documented
cases of women getting pregnant after hysterectomies! The better you are at using
your contraceptive method in the exact way it was intended, the more chance you 
have of remaining baby-free. But keep in mind that even that 0.01% chance could 
happen the next time you think “she’ll be right!”.

[⌊Assorted birth control pills syringes and contraceptive devices on a medical table⌉⌊Assorted birth control pills syringes and contraceptive devices on a medical table⌉ ](https://i0.wp.com/stayathomemum.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/1_2SosQLwRS7Fu9hb9qLOhqg.jpeg?quality=89&ssl=1)

[via medium.com](https://medium.com/re-production/even-our-contraceptives-are-sexist-b044f4d1f62d)

## **MYTH 3: Douching, Showering, or Bathing Can Prevent Pregnancy**

Douching (a fancy word for splashing or squirting water up your lady bits) is not
an effective method of birth control as it is impossible to douche fast enough to
keep sperm away from fertilising an egg. Urinating or taking a bath or shower will
also not wash sperm out. There is a (disturbing!) theory that douching with Coke
is supposed to kill sperm; although this is true, it is not recommended as it can
cause harm to the reproductive track.

[⌊Woman rinsing hair in the shower with water from a handheld showerhead⌉⌊Woman rinsing hair in the shower with water from a handheld showerhead⌉ ](https://i0.wp.com/stayathomemum.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/01-8-ways-youre-showering-wrong-scalp.jpg?quality=89&ssl=1)

[via rd.com](https://www.rd.com/health/beauty/showering-mistakes/)

## **MYTH 4: The female can’t get pregnant if the male “Pulls Out” before he ejaculates**

If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard this one! Withdrawal or “pulling out”
is not a reliable method, and there are several reasons for this.

An aroused male can pre-ejaculate up to 300,000 sperm before the rest of the soldiers
arrive for the party, and it only takes one of these suckers to fertilise an egg.
There is also the risk he won’t be able to pull out in time or that he will ejaculate
around the vagina.

Meaning, those Olympic swimming sperm can freestyle their way back up! Bottom line,
withdrawal CAN be effective but a method you can’t totally rely on. It is extremely
hard (no pun intended!) to do!

[⌊Close up of a couple discussing birth control myths in bed⌉⌊Close up of a couple discussing birth control myths in bed⌉ ](https://i0.wp.com/stayathomemum.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sex-No-Perfume_victoria-milan.jpg?quality=89&ssl=1)

[via swaggermagazine.com](https://www.swaggermagazine.com/home/culture/health-and-sex/sex/6-out-of-10-men-want-partners-without-perfume-in-bed/)

## **MYTH 5: Condoms can be replaced with other latex or plastic objects**

OK, let’s get this straight. The only substitute for a condom is another condom.
Not glad-wrap, balloons or any other latex or plastic stretchy covering you can 
find.

Traditionally, condoms have been the man’s responsibility, usually due to the belief
that, because they wear them, they buy them. But several companies now make condoms
for women now, too. Female condoms can be inserted up to eight hours before sex,
and they’re a great option if your guy is not happy about wearing condoms or is 
not particularly reliable in putting them on. Male and female condoms are the only
form of birth control that protects against sexually transmitted disease, but not
100% against pregnancy.

[⌊Contraceptive ring for birth control held between fingers⌉⌊Contraceptive ring for birth control held between fingers⌉ ](https://i0.wp.com/stayathomemum.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/98131-120226-condom-hmed2-10a.nbcnews-ux-1024-900.jpg?quality=89&ssl=1)

[via nbcnews.com](https://www.nbcnews.com/healthmain/condom-use-101-basic-errors-are-so-common-study-finds-207925)

## **MYTH 6: A woman can’t get pregnant if she has sex during her period**

Many women (and men) believe this myth. It is possible for a female to get pregnant
at any time during her menstrual cycle.

Generally, when you are having your period, it means that you are not ovulating.
If this is the case, then you will not get pregnant. However, females with irregular
or shorter cycles can actually ovulate during their period because it is not guaranteed
that you will ovulate mid-cycle.

Sperm can live inside a woman’s body for up to 5 days, so if you ovulate any time
within 7 days of having unprotected sex, you could become pregnant.

[⌊Close up of feet under a blanket symbolising intimacy and health⌉⌊Close up of feet under a blanket symbolising intimacy and health⌉ ](https://i0.wp.com/stayathomemum.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/couple-in-bed.jpg?quality=89&ssl=1)

via wallstreetinsanity.com

## **MYTH 7: Spermicides are reliable on their own**

Typically, spermicide is a chemical agent used to kill, or significantly slow down
the motility of sperm. It is not particularly popular as it is quite messy, can 
be irritating and its effectiveness on its own is quite low. As a side note, homemade
spermicides, such as toothpaste or soft drink, are completely ineffective and will
only end up making a huge mess and a very sticky situation!

[⌊8 birth control myths⌉⌊8 birth control myths⌉[

[via proprofs.com](https://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=spermicide-quiz)

## **MYTH 8: Standing Up + No Orgasm = No Pregnancy**

Not only does this sound uncomfortable and unsatisfying, it is completely untrue.

The theory is that the sperm find it too hard to swim “upwards” when you are standing
up, and the absence of muscle contractions caused by orgasm makes it even harder
to move the sperm towards the egg. But, as previously mentioned, just one little
swimmer needs to be strong enough to get up there. Pleasure and position have nothing
to do with birth control!

## _Have you come across any other birth control myths?_

[⌊Common birth control myths explained with a condom and pill image⌉⌊Common birth control myths explained with a condom and pill image⌉ ](https://i0.wp.com/stayathomemum.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/8-Birth-Control-Myths.jpg?quality=89&ssl=1)

![author avatar](https://i0.wp.com/stayathomemum.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/
12/clare_whitfield_profile.webp?quality=80&ssl=1)

 Clare Whitfield Chief Editor

 Clare Whitfield is the Editor of Stay at Home Mum and a recognised voice in practical
home management for Australian families. Based in the northern suburbs of Sydney,
she balances editorial leadership with life as a stay at home mum to two school 
age children. Her background in home economics and more than a decade of experience
in recipe development, family budgeting, and household systems inform her work.

 [See Full Bio](https://stayathomemum.com.au/author/clare_whitfield/) [  ](https://stayathomemum.com.au/author/clare_whitfield/)