There are numerous women health myths that have unfortunately prevailed over the years, leading to misinformation and often other disastrous consequences owing to their impact on decision making and taking the right steps towards attaining better health and wellness. Of course, you should opt to have regular health checkups and consult GPs for any issues that you potentially may discover or find symptoms for. At the same time, you should keep an eye out for such myths and misleading information that may impact your health negatively. Believing these facts will lead you towards ignoring the importance of both self and medical care or even lead you to delay vital treatment at a critical juncture. 

You should always pay more attention to these myths that often revolve around common women’s health problems and pertinent issues. If you still have doubts, make sure that you consult your general practitioner or a medical expert regarding the same. This will help you get the best advice while not falling prey to any harmful and misleading information with potentially problematic, troublesome and catastrophic consequences in some scenarios. Here are some of these myths to be concerned about: 

• Breastfeeding is a reliable method for birth control- This is one of the most wrongful and common pregnancy myths that you should dispense with. Even though breastfeeding may contribute towards checking ovulation, you may still get pregnant once again in case you engage in unprotected sex. Breastfeeding the child will lead to various hormones being released from your pituitary gland, and this actively lowers ovulation chances. Yet, the body may still keep releasing eggs periodically, particularly if you are supplementing breastfeeding with rice cereal, formula or baby food. 
• New birth control methods may have higher risks- The simple thing to remember in this case is that just like all other forms of medication, birth control forms go through various testing procedures prior to being made available for the general public. Hence, new birth control forms are as safe as other methods that have stuck around for several years or even decades. All options for birth control come with some risks that you should discuss with health experts beforehand. 
• Skipping the period with birth control methods will harm you- One of the key health tips for women is to remember that this is a myth. Birth control pills usually cover a week of placebo pills which will enable you to experience your menstrual cycle normally. Yet, it may be possible to skip your period by starting a new set of birth control pills instead of opting for the placebo pills. While this will not lower the risks of any complications or side effects, you should still consult your doctor prior to skipping the period in question. 
• Vaginal discharge is never a good sign- Nothing could be farther from the truth. Milky white or clear discharge from the vagina is a normal affair, and this may change in its consistency and amount throughout your menstrual cycle. The vagina is continually cleaning itself by removing mucus and older cells. If the discharge changes from the normal colour or consistency, then you may have to take a checkup. 
• Mammograms are the sole procedure for ensuring good breast health- Mammograms only offer a single point of information about the health of your breast tissues. Studies indicate that up to 20% of cancers in the breast are missed out by these mammograms. Doctors often make use of imaging equipment and ultrasounds to find any lumps and detect any signs of breast cancer in the early stages. 
• The second pregnancy will be similar to the first one- Every pregnancy has its own journey right till childbirth from conception. The doctor may take into account the experience of the earlier pregnancy while tracking overall progress. However, changes in symptoms, fertility and complication related risks may happen after the first child of a woman is born. 
• Women have smaller bladders in comparison to men- In spite of differences in the sizes of women’s and men’s bodies, women usually have similar-sized bladders in comparison to men. The differences in frequency of urination and capacity are mostly linked to the bladder position and adjacent organs, not the size of the bladder. 
• The vagina gets stretched permanently at the time of childbirth- The vaginal canal stretches considerably at the time of childbirth and gradually comes back to its regular size at the time of recovery. If women get stitches for tearing at the time of childbirth, then the vaginal opening may be smaller than the earlier size post the period of recovery. 
• Routine checkups are not needed post childbearing years- This is another major myth. While you should stay updated about general health and women’s heart health facts, you should know that regular checkups should continue even after the childbearing years, covering routine health examinations, pap smears, breast examinations and the like. The screening will help in early identification of any infections or potential ailments with aging. 
• Symptoms of menopause do not need treatment- If you have menopause symptoms causing considerable discomfort, you should get treatment at the earliest. This will cover urinary incontinence, hot flashes and dryness of the vagina. 

Bust these myths and stay on track towards a healthier and happier life.