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"Jumping in Place Prevents Pregnancy"... Absurd Contraceptive Myths Spread Among Gen Z and Millennials

Go Hui-gyeong

Published : Nov 6, 2026 10:44 AM

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A study has revealed that quite a few young women in the US rely on unproven contraceptive methods, and some of the methods are rather absurd, is that right?

Yes, according to the research published in an academic journal.

A survey of 633 women aged 15 to 29 in the US showed that more respondents used unproven methods than scientifically proven emergency contraception.

While only about 9% answered that they used proven emergency contraceptives like morning-after pills, approximately 16% reported using unproven methods.

Looking at what these unproven methods were, prayer was the most common, followed by responses such as douching or doing exercises like jumping in place.

The problem is that none of these methods have been scientifically proven to be effective at all.

Experts emphasized that relying on unproven methods can lead people to miss the window for necessary action, making it important to consistently use proven contraceptive methods.