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Milly Evans, a seasoned sex educator with six years of experience, recently found herself questioning the contraceptive methods she had long trusted. As she contemplated getting a hormonal coil (IUS), she was unexpectedly beset by doubts. A significant factor was the overwhelming presence of content on social media that discouraged using hormonal contraception. This flood of negative posts led Evans to wonder whether the potential risks truly outweighed the benefits, causing her to delay her appointment for six months.
Evans isn’t alone in encountering this social media landscape. Many women in their 20s who are active online have likely seen discussions about hormonal contraceptives such as the pill, coil, and implant. The majority of these conversations fall into two camps: women sharing their personal adverse side effects and individuals disseminating misinformation, often tied to ideological beliefs. Evans highlights that much of the misleading content comes from a “right-wing, religious, largely American element,” frequently couched in themes of “clean living” and “divine femininity.” Another young woman, Lauren Haslam from Manchester, shared similar frustrations. Haslam, who has benefited enormously from taking the combined pill to manage severe premenstrual dysphoric disorder, finds herself unsettled by fitness and wellness influencers who label hormonal contraception as “unnatural,” leaving her positive experience feeling undermined.
The spread of anti-hormonal contraception narratives is not limited to the UK; it has become especially prominent on social media in the US. Posts disparaging birth control often go viral, with some users claiming it causes depression or accusing it of being harmful without scientific backing. Psychosexual and relationship therapist Evie Plumb notes that even some individuals claiming medical expertise help propagate false information online and through podcasts. Dr Fran Yarlett, medical director at the women’s health platform The Lowdown, explains that some of the supposed dangers rely on small, poorly constructed studies and misinterpret scientific findings—such as the unfounded claim that the pill can shrink the clitoris. Meanwhile, healthcare professionals in the UK, like GP Jenny Dhingra, report encountering more patients reluctant or fearful of trying hormonal methods due to what they have seen online.
Official guidance from the NHS acknowledges that hormonal contraception can have side effects—headaches, nausea, mood changes, weight gain, breast tenderness, and acne—but reassures that these symptoms often diminish with time. The NHS also notes that risks such as blood clots and breast cancer are very low. However, it is challenging to determine precisely how much negative online discourse is shaping contraceptive choices in the UK. Professor Jenny Hall from University College London observes subtle trends from NHS data, including a drop in hormonal contraception use between 2018 and 2023, based on abortion-related statistics. Furthermore, a recent review of studies showed that negative side effects receive much greater attention on social media than the positive aspects of hormonal contraception. Experts warn that extreme and sensational stories often receive more visibility, overshadowing the many women who have had positive experiences.
As concerns about hormonal contraception rise, some women turn to alternatives such as fertility tracking apps, which have gained popularity partly because they can be advertised on
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