Common Misconceptions Young People Still Have Around Birth Control

Birth control has been around for decades. Information about it is widely available online, on social media, through health care organizations, and at health care providers' offices. But, some of these tools are used to spread mis- and disinformation that leads young people to cling to myths and misconceptions about how it works, and whether it's even safe.

Data from Power to Decide's 2025 Youth Reproductive Health Access (YouR HeAlth) Survey suggest the gap between what young people know and what they need to know is wider than we might realize. The survey, conducted in July 2025 with more than 1,200 adolescents and young adults (AYA) aged 15–29 who were assigned female at birth, paints a clear picture: birth control misconceptions are common, significant, and largely unaddressed.

You DO NOT Need to Take a Break from the Pill

Only 1 in 4 young people (23%) correctly identified that people do not need to "take a break" from birth control pills every couple of years for health reasons. More than half of respondents (53%) said they simply didn't know the answer. Another 24% actively believed the break was necessary.

You do not need to take a break from birth control, but if you choose to, remember to use other methods such as condoms.

Not All Birth Control Has Hormones

Nearly 1 in 5 young people (19.7%) incorrectly believe that all birth control methods contain hormones. Another third said they didn't know.

This matters because for many people—especially those who've had negative experiences with hormonal methods, those who have specific health conditions, or those who simply prefer a hormone-free option—non-hormonal methods like copper IUDs, condoms, diaphragms, and fertility awareness-based methods offer real alternatives. When young people don't know these options exist, they may forgo birth control entirely rather than seeking out a method that works for them.

Cycle Tracking Apps Can Be Effective

More than 1 in 4 young people (29%) believe that menstrual cycle tracking apps are a highly effective way to prevent pregnancy. That number is significant in a world where period-tracking apps are downloaded by millions.

The reality is that fertility awareness-based methods—including app-based tracking—require consistency and specific conditions to use effectively. Most apps available to consumers aren't designed or validated as contraceptives. For someone relying solely on a tracking app, the risk of unintended pregnancy is substantially higher than with many other available methods. But a backup method such as condoms can increase efficacy and also help prevent STIs.

IUDs DO NOT Cause Abortions

Nearly 4 in 10 respondents didn't know whether the statement "IUDs work by causing an abortion" was true or false, and 3.8% believed it to be true.

IUDs are among the most effective forms of reversible birth control available. They work primarily by preventing fertilization, not by terminating a pregnancy. Misinformation about how IUDs work can create unnecessary fear around one of the most reliable contraceptive options and push people away from a method that could be exactly right for them. And we have seen a continuous effort to equate contraception with abortion in an attempt to spread anti-contraception policies.

Some Birth Control Can Have Side Effects

Beyond what young people know, the survey also captures what they fear and how it is shaping their decisions.

Approximately half of all respondents (51.6%) reported worrying that birth control has dangerous side effects. One-third (34.9%) worried that using birth control would affect their ability to have a baby later in life, a concern not supported by current medical evidence for the vast majority of methods.

Side effects are real and vary by method and individual. But when worry is driven by misinformation rather than accurate, individualized information from a trusted provider, it can become a barrier to care. Young people deserve the full picture—including the risks and the benefits—so they can make informed decisions that are right for their bodies and their lives.

When young people believe birth control is more dangerous than it is, when they worry it will affect their future fertility, when they're confused about how common methods actually work, they're less likely to use birth control consistently, less likely to explore all available options, and less likely to feel empowered in conversations with their health care providers.

Young people want accurate information. The survey found that 85% of young adults want to get birth control information from a health care provider. The vast majority prefer to receive it in person. So, while these myths are prevalent, there is a real desire to learn more about birth control and find the right method for them.

Trusted digital resources, like Bedsider, that meet young people where they are and counter misinformation with evidence can help close the knowledge gap.