Researchers found that of more than 4,100 women who were seeking birth control, about 45 percent overestimated the effectiveness of the Pill and condoms.
They also had too much faith in hormonal birth control patches, vaginal rings and injections, according to findings reported in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
And what happens when they have too much faith in birth control?
They end up having abortions.
"We need to do a better job of educating the public -- women and men -- on the failure rates with typical use," said Eisenberg, of Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine.
Which is exactly what abstinence education does to discourage youth from relying on these less-than-perfect methods of preventing pregnancy.
Interesting Stat:
A recent survey by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 30 percent of health providers doubted the safety of IUDs for women who'd never given birth.
When IUDs first came out, there were concerns that they might raise the risk of pelvic infection and jeopardize women's future fertility. So the original IUD labeling said the devices were contraindicated for women who'd never had children.
But it's now known that IUDs do not carry those risk
Did anyone ask them what their concerns were?
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has said that IUDs and implants should be offered as "first-line" options for most women, because of their effectiveness and safety.
And they will continue to act like they can't get pregnant on birth control.
But here's the thing.
When the Pill came out, it was touted as the thing to prevent pregnancy.
Now we're more aware of their failure rates. Millions of women engaged in sexual intercourse thinking that the possibility of pregnancy was remote and therefore non-existent.
What about now? What are they selling us that will be proved to be wrong in five or ten years?
H/T: Via Jill Stanek
