Mrs Roseline Akinlabi, Adolescent and Youth Sexual Reproductive Health Desk Officer at the Osun State Primary Healthcare Board, has debunked widespread myths suggesting that contraceptive pills cause cervical cancer in women.
Speaking during a virtual engagement organised by the State Public Health Media Team in collaboration with The Challenge Initiative (TCI), a non-governmental organisation, Akinlabi clarified that such beliefs are unfounded and harmful to public health.
Akinlabi, a certified family planning trainer and registered public health nurse, addressed the theme: “The Impacts of Family Planning Myths and Misconceptions on Spacing, Unplanned Pregnancy, and Unsafe Abortion.”
She stated that contrary to misinformation circulating within communities, contraceptive pills do not lead to cervical cancer, nor do they cause infertility or promote infidelity among women.
“Contraceptive pills cannot cause cancer of the ovary or the lining of the uterus, as is often speculated,” she affirmed.
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“Myths and misconceptions remain one of the biggest obstacles to the uptake of family planning services across Osun State and Nigeria at large.”
Akinlabi noted that these falsehoods significantly contribute to the prevalence of teenage pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and high maternal morbidity and mortality rates.
“These beliefs confuse the public and create unnecessary fear, making it harder for individuals to access the reproductive healthcare they need,” she said.
“By discouraging contraceptive use, they negatively affect child spacing efforts and lead to more cases of unplanned pregnancies and unsafe abortions.”
She called for collective action to dismantle misinformation and raise awareness about the benefits of family planning.
“It is our collective responsibility to create a safe space where girls and women can make informed decisions about their reproductive health,” she added.
According to Akinlabi, family planning empowers individuals to determine the number, spacing, and timing of their children, resulting in healthier outcomes for both mothers and children.
NAN