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?
A Shift in Confidence
For six years, Milly Evans has guided others through the complexities of sexual health. Yet, before opting for a hormonal coil (IUS), she found herself questioning her own decisions. Social media overwhelmed her with content warning against hormonal contraception, sparking uncertainty about its suitability for her body. “I kept delaying the appointment for six months,” she recalls, noting how some arguments seemed persuasive enough to challenge her existing knowledge.
The Influence of Online Narratives
Lauren Haslam, a 25-year-old from Manchester, also faces this tension. She follows fitness and wellness influencers who often frame hormonal methods like the pill as “unnatural.” Despite her four years of using the combined pill to manage premenstrual dysphoric disorder, she feels her positive experience is undermined by such posts. “It makes me wonder if I’m making the right choice,” she admits, highlighting the emotional weight of these debates.
Experts on the Rise of Misinformation
Social media has amplified concerns about hormonal contraceptives, particularly in the US. Posts like one where a young mother holds her unplanned child while seeking advice often carry emotional resonance. A comment beneath such a post, with over 800 likes, declares,
“Birth control is so bad for you.”
Another user mocks contraception, stating,
“It sucks.”
Even medical professionals, like psychosexual therapist Evie Plumb, contribute to spreading doubt through podcasts and online platforms.
UK Trends and Data Insights
While the US leads in this discourse, the UK is not immune. London GP Jenny Dhingra reports growing patient hesitation, citing fears of side effects fueled by social media. The NHS lists common effects—headaches, nausea, mood swings—but emphasizes they often subside over time. It also notes a “very low” risk of blood clots and breast cancer. However, Jenny Hall, a UCL reproductive health professor, cautions that NHS data may underrepresent trends due to gaps in tracking pharmacy users and long-term device prescriptions.