Green flag: Your boo wants to talk about birth control

It’s a total green flag if your partner wants to talk about birth control. But if they spend a lot of time on social, you might have to help bust some birth control myths. Untruths about birth control (hello, misinformation!) are taking over the internet right now! How can you know which concerns about birth control are valid? We are here to break them down for you.

Talking to your partner about birth control

Everyone is different, and birth control is for sure not one-size-fits-all. Not sure what’s real and what’s in your head because of your algorithm? It might help to start writing down questions you or your partner have and research the answers together.

Bedsider is just one resource we can use to better understand each birth control method, and exploring together with an open mind is a great way to start the conversation. If answers are not clear, they can go with you to an appointment or consultation with your provider. Paying attention to your needs and being curious about your partner’s concerns and questions can be a great way to have a chat with your birth control prescriber or pharmacist.

Is talking about birth control sexy?

It can feel awkward at first—but knowing you’re both on the same page? That’s actually pretty hot. It can also be hard to be sexy in the moment if you’re worried about pregnancy, and birth control can help people feel less anxious during sex. It’s easier to find the pleasure that you and your partner are craving when you’re feeling relaxed. It’s not your fault if birth control hasn’t seemed sexy to you before. Conversations around hormonal birth control can be hard due to stigma, media portrayals, or misinformation. Condoms have had a lot of help from pop culture and public health campaigns. This could be why it’s way easier to work condoms into a flirty conversation than, say, the birth control patch.

Let’s talk about some common birth control misinformation that we’ve come across lately, and how to talk to your partner about them:

Is birth control linked to cancer?

The best way to know if you have an increased cancer risk is to talk to your provider about genetic testing. Ask your partner if they have any specific concerns due to family history or experience. Certain genes are linked to increased risk of cancers. And from what we know at this point, even for people with a family history, both hormonal and nonhormonal birth control are safe options. Some birth control actually reduces a person’s risk of certain types of cancers.

Does birth control deplete your vitamins?

It seems like everyone on social media is trying to sell you a supplement. If an influencer is pushing a supplement alongside their birth control take—check for that discount code. Just saying. The real question to ask yourself is, “Have I been feeling off lately?” or ask your partner if they have noticed any changes in your behavior that led to concerns. If you have, and you’ve recently made a change to your hormonal birth control, the two things could be related. But they might also not be. It’s worth checking in with your provider to see what they think. Lots of things contribute to changes in mood and energy, including stress, relationships, and health conditions.

Does birth control make you depressed?

The question of whether hormonal birth control affects mood has been debated for decades—and the honest answer is: it’s complicated. There’s no solid science that proves a connection (even for people with histories of depression or bipolar disorder). That being said, what is true for you is true for you. Your mental health is a priority. Talking through your emotions, concerns, and feelings with your partner could help you identify patterns, and if you start a new hormonal birth control and you notice changes in your mood, definitely talk to your provider about it.

At the end of the day, the best birth control for you is the one that works for you! It’s also a major plus if you and your partner can talk about it openly. Birth control can be a super sexy secret you share only with your partner. Or it can be your entire personality and/or sexuality. You get to choose.