Shock may follow the moments after a woman learns she might be pregnant. Maybe there’s a missed period or moments of nausea and fatigue that may have caused a bit of confusion. Perhaps you thought you and your partner had already taken steps to prevent this scenario from happening, as the two of you heard drinking Mountain Dew would lower his sperm count. This is not necessarily an effective way to guard against pregnancy. Though you may feel a little panicked, you need only take things one small step at a time. What do you do next when you used Mountain Dew as a birth control method and are concerned about a possible pregnancy?
Are you worried the protection you and your partner used may not have worked? Avenue Women’s Center offers unexpected pregnancy support and confidential services at each of our DuPage County locations. We’ll walk you through the steps of taking a free, medical-grade pregnancy test. Afterward, our caring staff will sit down with you for a private consultation. Answering your questions about abortion, adoption, and parenting, we’ll listen to your unique concerns and help connect you to available resources.
Contact us today for accurate and reliable information about your options!
Does Mountain Dew Work to Prevent Pregnancies?
Someone might have informed you and your partner that drinking Mountain Dew before sexual intercourse will reduce your partner’s sperm count. This is a popular rumor. But the evidence so far seems to indicate that’s all it is – a rumor.
What works and what doesn’t when it comes to unexpected pregnancy prevention can be confusing. In the case of Mountain Dew, it’s been speculated that two ingredients – caffeine and Yellow No. 5 (a form of food coloring) – make the soda an effective contraceptive. While it’s possible for some people to be sensitive to these contents, there is no evidence that it suppresses male sperm.
It’s true some men struggle with infertility due to a low sperm count. But drinking excessive amounts of lemon-lime soda may not be the best form of birth control. Even if it worked a few times in the past, this can be related to any number of factors that are not necessarily a result of drinking Mountain Dew.
Your partner’s fertility can be impacted by things such as low testosterone, smoking, obesity, and diabetes. This may lead to a reduction of your partner’s sperm count, but that doesn’t always mean the two of you can never conceive. That is why caution is often advised if you’re engaged in a sexual relationship.
It can be helpful to talk with a doctor or a pregnancy consultant to better understand some of the side effects and failure rates of various birth control methods. Comfort and effectiveness are often two important traits when it comes to using contraception. But with the exception of abstaining from sexual activity, there is no method that works 100% of the time.
What to Do If You Think You Might Be Pregnant
Have you recently found yourself facing an unexpected pregnancy? One of the first things you may want to do is contact someone you can talk to about it. Someone you can trust to listen and acknowledge your concerns without judgment.
It’s normal to feel stressed and overwhelmed in a situation like this. And sorting through these emotions can be difficult if they’re dealt with alone. This is why you may want to consider who it is you may want to tell about your pregnancy. What resources could you consult to help you organize your thoughts?
The process of learning more about your options and determining what feelings lay behind each decision can seem arduous. You may find yourself going back and forth when it comes to your choices. And while the indecisiveness may be making you anxious, this is normal. Conflicting emotions often accompany large circumstances we may not have anticipated.
It can be helpful to have support so you can communicate the steps of your plan to someone who’s able to act as a sounding board. Talking about your concerns out loud can allow for reflection. As you carefully consider what choice to make, a sympathetic listener can assist with the organization of your thoughts. During a time when you may feel a little anxious and tense, having support at your side to keep everything from becoming jumbled can be crucial.
If you think you might be pregnant, locating an active form of support is often a good place to start. Avenue Women’s Center has worked with clients across a wide spectrum of unexpected pregnancy situations. We’re here to walk you through this time. Our expert pregnancy consultants will meet with you for a private session, where you can freely express your emotions and receive help with constructing a plan. We’ll answer your questions about birth control, its failure rates, your three potential decisions, and how to connect with resources.
Call, chat, email, or text to schedule your free appointment with us today!
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References:
- healthline. (2018, December). Does Drinking Mountain Dew Kill Sperm? Retrieved from: https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/does-mountain-dew-kill-sperm#TOC_TITLE_HDR_1
- MedicalNewsToday. (2018, August). Mountain Dew does not kill sperm. Retrieved from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322774
Reviewed by Patricia Kuenzi, APN-CNP, MSN, ANP, PNP.
The information provided here is general in nature. It is not a substitute for a consultation with a medical professional. Before any medical procedure, it is imperative that you discuss your personal medical history, risks, and concerns with your doctor. If you have questions during or after a procedure, your doctor should be immediately contacted. Avenue Women’s Center is not an emergency center. If you are experiencing severe symptoms, such as bleeding and/or pain, seek immediate medical attention. Contact your physician, go to an emergency room, or call 911.