Training of Roma Health Mediators in Reproductive Health

Most women experience no side effects. Occasionally, they may experience:
• Nausea
• Unexpected bleeding or spotting
• Breast tenderness
• Headaches or dizziness
• Increase appetite and weight gain.
Myths and Facts about the Pill
Myth: The pill causes cancer.
Fact: Scientists have done many studies with women using the pill. These studies do not
show that the pill causes cancer. In fact, they show that the pill can help protect women
from some kinds of cancer, such as ovarian or uterine cancer.
Myth: The pill causes deformed babies and multiple births (twins, triplets).
Fact: There is no difference between women who use the pill and those who do not, in
the number of deformed babies they have or in the number of multiple births, even if they
conceive while on the pill.
Myth: If a woman uses the pill, she will have trouble getting pregnant again when she
stops using the pill.
Fact: In the majority of women, pregnancy occurs soon after they stop using the pill.
Experts believe that the small number of women who have trouble getting pregnant after
taking the pill would have experienced this trouble even if they had never taken the pill.
Myth: The pill will build up in the body.
Fact: Contraceptive pills dissolve in a woman’s stomach, just like other medicines and
food she eats and do not build up in the body.
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RFHI/JSI Romania Training of RHMs in Reproductive Health Session 4: FP Methods