I’ve been a sex educator for six years. Why did I start doubting my contraception choices?
I’ve been a sex educator for six years. Why did I start doubting my contraception choices?
The Influence of Online Conversations
Milly Evans, a seasoned sex educator, has extensive knowledge about contraceptive methods compared to many others. Yet, as she prepared to undergo a hormonal coil (IUS) procedure, she found herself uncertain about the decision. Her social media feed was overwhelmed with posts challenging the use of hormonal contraception. She questioned whether the potential risks were justified, delaying her appointment for six months.
“Some of the claims I saw were so compelling that they made me question what I already know to be true,” Evans shares.
A Shift in Perception
Lauren Haslam, a 25-year-old from Manchester, also noticed this trend. She follows fitness and wellness influencers whose content often portrays hormonal contraception negatively. Haslam, who has relied on the combined pill for four years, credits it with transforming her life by easing symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Still, the critical posts left her feeling her positive experience was being undermined.
Online discussions typically fall into two main categories: personal accounts of side effects and deliberate misinformation. This latter group, often linked to right-wing, religious, and American perspectives, frames contraception as a threat to “clean living” and “divine femininity.” Posts like these have appeared on Haslam’s Instagram feed, sparking doubt in her mind.
Spread of Misinformation
In the U.S., the anti-hormonal contraception movement has gained traction on platforms like Instagram. One viral post shows a young mother holding her unplanned child, asking for advice. A comment beneath it, garnering over 800 likes, claims birth control is “so bad for you.” Another user laments that the pill “sucks” and caused depression.
Even medical professionals contribute to this discourse. Evie Plumb, a psychosexual therapist, notes that some with medical credentials spread misleading information online and in podcasts. Dr. Fran Yarlett, medical director at the Lowdown, acknowledges that while certain claims are inaccurate, others stem from small studies with questionable methods, such as the assertion that the pill can “shrink your clitoris.”
Real-World Impact
This skepticism isn’t confined to digital spaces. UK sexual health experts report growing hesitancy among patients at clinics. Jenny Dhingra, a London GP, observes increased “aversion” to hormonal methods, with some citing fears from social media. The NHS lists common side effects like headaches, nausea, and acne, noting they often improve over time. It also mentions a slight rise in blood clot and breast cancer risks, though these are described as “very low.”
Jenny Hall, a UCL professor of reproductive health, highlights gaps in NHS data. She explains that current statistics don’t account for individuals who obtain the pill through pharmacies or those who use long-acting devices without frequent replacements. Despite this, data suggests a decline in hormonal contraception use. A 2023 study found a drop in its proportion among women seeking abortions in England and Wales between 2018 and 2023. Earlier research also noted that negative side effects are more frequently highlighted online than the benefits of these methods.
