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Get Real: The Facts vs. Myths on Population, Family Planning, and Reproductive Health
Myth #1: Contraceptives cause abortion. Life begins at fertilization, so contraceptives kill children. (pp.2-3)
FACT: Contraceptives DO NOT cause abortion. Research has shown that the use of contraceptives prevents up
to 112 million abortions each year and reduces abortion by 85%.
Myth #2: Contraceptives are dangerous to health and cause cancer. (pp. 4-5)
FACT: Contraceptives DO NOT cause cancer, have been proven safe worldwide, and even lower cancer risk.

Myth #3: Mandatory sex education and contraceptives will destroy the family, compromise morality, increase
promiscuity and promote HIV infections. (p. 6)
FACT: Age-appropriate sex education and contraceptive provisions will support informed choice and lower the
transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

Myth #4: Family Planning using artificial methods is against Filipino culture. (p. 7)
FACT: National surveys show that a majority of Filipinos believe that family planning using modern and artificial
methods is important. Many of them prefer smaller family sizes.
Myth #5: Natural family planning (NFP) is the most effective and safe family planning method, is free, and is
the only program that should be supported by the government. (pp. 8-9)
FACT: Both NFP and modern methods are needed to effectively and safely address maternal health, family
planning, and sustainable development.

Myth #6: There is no link between population and poverty. Corruption is the sole cause of poverty. (pp. 10-13)
FACT: There are strong, proven links between poverty, rapid population growth, and large, unplanned family
sizes.
Myth #7: The Philippines has enough resources to meet a larger population. (pp. 14-17)
FACT: The Philippines will not develop sustainably unless it slows its rapidly growing population.

Myth #8: Highly populated countries like India and China are successful because of their large populations,
while other countries are experiencing a “demographic winter.” (pp. 18-20)
FACT: India and China have been trying to reduce population growth and family sizes for decades, and their
growth is due to the improving productivity of their citizens. The Philippines is 100 years away from a
“demographic winter,” and even with lowered population growth and fertility rates, will already reach 160
million in 2060. Without this, the Philippines may have an unsustainable population of 240 million people.

Myth #9: Family planning through modern contraceptives is against the Philippine Constitution. (p. 21)
FACT: The Philippine Constitution and Philippine commitments to International Agreements allow family
planning and the use of modern methods.

Myth #10: Islam, Christianity and other major religions forbid contraception. (pp. 22-26)
FACT: Islam, most Christian denominations, and other major religions allow couples to use modern and natural
methods to plan their families. The governments of Catholic countries have accepted family planning policies
with State provision of modern and natural family planning methods.