‘No evidence family planning causes infidelity or infertility’ — Health expert
By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –
A public health expert, Mrs. Roseline Akinlabi, has dispelled widespread rumours linking family planning methods to infidelity and permanent infertility in women.
Akinlabi, who serves as the Adolescent and Youth Sexual Reproductive Health Desk Officer at the Osun Primary Healthcare Board, made this known during a virtual engagement programme organised by the State Public Health Media Team with the support of a non-governmental organisation, The Challenge Initiative (TCI), in Osogbo.
She clarified that contraceptive pills do not cause cancer of the ovary or the lining of the uterus, as is often wrongly believed.
The health expert emphasised that such false beliefs create significant barriers to access and utilisation of family planning services, thereby increasing the risk of unplanned pregnancies and unsafe sexual practices.
Speaking on the topic, “The Impacts of Family Planning Myths and Misconceptions on Spacing, Unplanned Pregnancy, and Unsafe Abortion,” Akinlabi noted that the continued spread of myths has contributed to high rates of teenage pregnancy, maternal mortality, and morbidity in the state and the country at large.
She stressed that many women who could benefit from modern contraceptive methods avoid them due to fears driven by misinformation.
“These false beliefs create barriers to access and use of family planning methods, increasing the risks of unwanted pregnancies and risky sexual behaviour,” she said. “There is an urgent need to debunk these myths and equip individuals with accurate information to make informed decisions about their reproductive health.”
She added, “It is our collective responsibility to dispel rumours about contraceptives, raise awareness about the benefits of family planning, and create safer spaces for our girls and women.”
