Taking 'the pill' is a common practice among young women these days. But for how long? Studies show that the amount of women who take oral contraceptives is declining for one very good reason: They're afraid it will cause them to gain weight. But is this a legitimate concern, or is it just an urban myth?

Chalk this one up to idle gossip, according to this article from The Telegraph. Scottish Professor Anna Glasier said: "We need to emphasize that [oral contraceptives] don't impair fertility, and the majority of them don't affect weight." All the same, many women do report weight gain and other changes when they go on the pill, but this is more likely due to lifestyle changes, according to Dietitian Juliette Kellow.

Sorry girls, guess you can't blame that extra love handle on the pill -- time to get to the gym.

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Many women take oral contraceptives without questioning the science behind it. But as with any medication, it's a good idea to do your own research, instead of having blind faith in your doctors. So if you're on the pill, here are some surprising facts that you should know.

For example, did you know:

• That if you're overweight, the pill might not work as well for you?
• That certain drugs, such as nyquil, can interfere with the pill's effectiveness?
• That the FDA recently approved a pill that will eliminate your period while you're on it?
• That the pill may cause you to gain a couple of pounds, but not more?
• That you can safely miss one pill, but not two?

A few of these are news to me. How about you?

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Women taking birth control pills may need to keep an eye on their calcium intake, as researchers have discovered that oral contraceptives can decrease bone density. This is especially problematic, because the time during which it's most effective for women to optimize bone mass is adolescence and young adulthood -- a time when women are most-likely to use birth control.

It's feared that a decrease in bone density during these years can lead to osteoporosis later in life.

Subsequently, it's important that women who are using birth control -- especially those under 18 -- meet or exceeding the Recommended Daily Allowance for calcium. (The RDA for women age 9-18 is 1,300 milligrams a day, and is 1,000 milligrams a day for women age 19-50.)

Some calcium-rich foods that you might try include: milk (300 mg of calcium in 1 cup), yogurt (150-200 mg in 1 cup), pinto beans (140 mg in 1 cup) and almonds (80 mg in 1 cup).

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