According to hearsay, paracetamol and coke can prevent pregnancy. But how true is this? Can paracetamol prevent pregnancy?
Even though this has been debunked by science and medical professionals, this belief has still been passed down from generation to generation. Even some people from the new generation believe that paracetamol and coke can prevent pregnancy.
Coke and paracetamol can prevent pregnancy? Is it true or not?
Can paracetamol prevent pregnancy? How about if it is combined with coke? According to an expert, the belief that coke and biogesic can prevent pregnancy is just an urban legend. This is how experts from different fields of medicine, science, marketing, and business view taking coke and biogesic to prevent pregnancy.
Here in the Philippines, one of the most accessible medicine is paracetamol –either branded or generic. And the belief that paracetamol and coke can cause miscarriage or can be used to prevent pregnancy is still widely believed by many Filipinos.
Paracetamol and coke side effects | Image from Freepik
Is coke and paracetamol prevent pregnancy?
Coke and paracetamol can prevent pregnancy, that’s what they say. You only need to take paracetamol and coke after you had sexual intercourse with your partner to prevent yourself from being pregnant. However, the experts’ answer to the question “Is coke and paracetamol prevent pregnancy,” is NO!
According to Dr. Maria Carla Esquivias-Chua, Obstetrics, and Gynecology specialist, paracetamol is a kind of painkiller and it is considered safe for intake by pregnant women. Just make sure not to overdose on the said medicine.
But if you aim to prevent pregnancy, no study or case proves that taking paracetamol and coke can prevent pregnancy.
There is not enough evidence for that claim. Dr. Maria Carla Esquivias-Chua added, that it is not that easy to abort a pregnancy with a certain medicine unless it has a specified content that may cause too much bleeding to a woman.
“Too much of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs na gamot, iyong mga ‘yon, masama ‘yon sa pregnancy. Puwede ‘yong mag-cause ng abortion. So, if too much of that… sa first trimester.”
On the other hand, just like paracetamol, there are also claims that coke alone can also prevent pregnancy by killing the sperm. But experts in the field of medicine and science also debunked that claim.
A study done by a group of researchers and doctors at Harvard Medical School said that drinking coke after you had sex with a man cannot kill the sperm and prevent your pregnancy. According to the said study, coke has no “sperm-killing ability,” which is why it is not possible to use it as a “contraceptive douche.”
The Coca-cola company also made it clear that they never release any branding or advertisement claiming that coke can prevent pregnancy. According to them, there is no advertisement of their product that aims to promote coke as a contraceptive.
When the company was asked about the continuous study of Harvard Medical School of their product and its correlation to contraception, the company stated,
“Our position is we do not promote any of our products for any medical use.”
Paracetamol and coke side effects | Image from Freepik
Paracetamol and coke side effects
Dr. Esquivias-Chua reiterated that even though taking paracetamol while pregnant may not cause harm to your baby, it is still important to watch for yourself when taking any medicine. Make sure you are not taking too much to avoid overdosing.
“Pero oo, for a short period of time, puwede namang mag-take for every four hours ang pregnant patient ng paracetamol. This is safe,” said Dr. Esquivias-Chua.
There are different harmful effects of paracetamol overdose on your body. It may not be effective as a contraceptive but taking too much paracetamol may cause disruption of the liver, kidney failure, intense fatigue, excessive sweating, and confusion.
Dr. Esquivias-Chua also reminds expectant moms who are drinking coke.
According to the doctor, it’s okay to drink coke while pregnant. Drinking coke is cannot cause abnormality in the baby. However, drinking soft drinks during pregnancy is not a healthy choice.
And expectant moms need to understand that what they consume will also be consumed by their babies. It is important that they eat and drink healthy foods and beverages, so their baby gets the nutrients they needed.
“Hindi kasi healthy ang soda sa buntis. Kasi masyado itong matamis, puwedeng mag-cause ng gestational diabetes sa pregnant. Pag pina-check naming at tumaas ang blood sugar ng pregnant, maggagamot pa siya, mag-insulin pa. So, ang daming puwedeng maging problema pag merong gestational diabetes ang mother which can be caused by taking too much Coke.”
In conclusion, aside from the fact that the claims that paracetamol and coke can prevent pregnancy are not true, it is also clear that taking too much coke and paracetamol may bring harm to your health.
Paracetamol and coke can prevent pregnancy? | Image from Freepik
Reproductive plans that are safe and tested
Are you afraid of getting pregnant? Or maybe you and your partner are not yet ready to have a baby? Refrain from believing the hearsay that paracetamol and coke can prevent pregnancy. Please, do not take paracetamol and coke for contraception.
In this situation, the safest and most possible way to avoid pregnancy is to never engage in sexual intercourse. But how about those who are sexually active? Does that mean they need to stop having sex with their partner? Of course not!
There are several ways that you can try to prevent yourself from getting pregnant. The following are some of the natural ways that you and your partner may try to prevent pregnancy:
- Have a fertility plan using the Standard Days Method (SDM)
- Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM)
- Basal Body Temperature (BBT)
- Billing Ovulation/Cervical Mucus Method
- Sympto-Thermal Method
Family planning methods that are available in the Philippines
Here’s the primary report of Irish Manlapaz about different family planning methods and contraceptives that are available in the Philippines. You and your partner can try the following to prevent pregnancy:
Use condom
The effectiveness of using a condom as a contraceptive is estimated at 98%. Just make sure to use it properly. In most cases where a couple uses a condom and still gets pregnant because of the improper use of the condom.
Birth control pills
Birth control pills are 99% effective as a contraceptive if used properly just like condoms. This is one of the most effective and popular family planning methods among women. However, unlike a condom, pills cannot protect you from sexually transmitted diseases or infections. Aside from that, some women experience side effects after taking contraceptive pills.
Photo by Cotton Bro from Pexels
IUD or Intra-uterine device
It is also one of the most effective birth control methods with 99% effectiveness. What is IUD? It is a kind of birth control method for women where a small T-shaped metal is inserted through the vagina to the uterus. Additionally, IUD effectively prevents the sperm from getting inside the vagina and reaching the egg cells. It also stops the uterus from creating a uterine lining where the fertilized egg attaches.
Implant
In addition, a small tube is inserted into the arm of a woman. The tube releases an etonogestrel, a kind of progesterone hormone that helps prevent a woman from getting pregnant. Its effectiveness can last up to 3 years.
Injectable
It is another birth control method that is being used in the Philippines. It is also called Provera. The injectable contains progestin that is injected into the arm of a woman, once every three months. It has a 93% effectivity rate. However, it may cause side effects such as weight gain, irregular periods, and dizziness.
Additional information from Ana Isabel Manalang
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