Can a high doses of Vitamin C work as a natural contraceptive?

Hyderabad: A Facebook reel claims that Vitamin C acts as a natural contraceptive when it comes to unwanted pregnancy.

In the viral reel, a woman claims, “Another remedy is Vitamin C. If you take 500 mg of Vitamin C every two hours, this is another remedy to bring out your menstrual cycle.”

The caption reads, “PUT THE PLAN B PILL DOWN- Vitamin C is a NATURAL day after remedy for slip-ups.”

Birth control, also known as contraception, is the use of medicines, devices, or surgery to prevent pregnancy. It is better to opt for contraceptives to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

Can Vitamin C act as a natural contraceptive? Keep scrolling to find out.

FACT CHECK

NewsMeter found that Vitamin C is not a contraceptive, rather it protects cells and helps keep them healthy.

According to Healthline, “Taking large amounts of Vitamin C will not end a pregnancy. No matter where you live, there are safer ways to end a pregnancy at home.”

It added, “These rumours claim that taking large doses of vitamin C supplements, several days in a row, will end a pregnancy. But this is not true.”

NHS UK also said that Vitamin C protects cells and keeps them healthy. “It’s found in a wide variety of fruit and vegetables, and a balanced diet can provide all the vitamin C you need,” it added.

We also found another article on a health website, AptaClub, that said, “Vitamin C is needed to make collagen, one of the fibres that builds your baby’s body. So, it’s no surprise that your need increases during pregnancy.”

A study titled “Vitamin supplementation for preventing miscarriage” stated that “there was no difference in the risk of total fetal loss between women receiving vitamin C with vitamin E compared with placebo or no vitamin C groups. No clear differences were seen in the risk of total fetal loss or miscarriage between women receiving any other combination of vitamin C compared with placebo or no vitamin C groups.”

From the above investigation, it is clear that taking a large dose of Vitamin C does not affect pregnancy or act as a contraceptive. Taking Vitamin C during or before conceiving is good for the baby. But it should be noted that while too much dietary vitamin C is unlikely to be harmful, large doses of Vitamin C supplements might cause:

· Diarrhoea

· Nausea

· Vomiting

· Heartburn

· Stomach (abdominal) cramps

· Headache

“Remember, for most people, a healthy diet provides enough Vitamin C,” says Mayo Clinic.