I’ve been a sex educator for six years. Why did I start doubting my contraception choices?

Online Doubt and Personal Uncertainty

Milly Evans, a certified sex educator with six years of experience, once felt confident in her understanding of birth control. Yet, as she prepared to install a hormonal intrauterine system (IUS), she began questioning her decision. Social media overwhelmed her with content casting doubt on hormonal methods, prompting her to delay her appointment for six months. “Some claims I saw were so persuasive that they made me doubt what I thought was factual,” she explains.

From Fitness Influencers to Viral Claims

Lauren Haslam, a 25-year-old from Manchester, shares similar concerns. She follows numerous fitness and wellness creators who often portray hormonal contraception as “unnatural” and criticize it for “causing chaos.” Despite taking the combined pill for four years, which has eased her symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder—a severe form of premenstrual syndrome—Haslam feels her positive experience is undermined by online narratives. “The posts make me wonder if I’m making the right choice,” she admits.

Spread of Misinformation in the US

Across the Atlantic, the US has seen a surge in social media content attacking hormonal contraception. A post from a new mother, holding her unplanned child, sparked over 800 likes with a comment stating, “Birth control is so bad for you.” Another user claimed contraception “sucks” and linked the pill to depression. Even those with medical credentials, such as Evie Plumb, a psychosexual therapist, contribute to this trend by spreading questionable claims in podcasts and online.

Expert Rebuttals and Contextual Concerns

Dr. Fran Yarlett, medical director at women’s health platform the Lowdown, notes that while some critiques are valid, others stem from small studies with questionable methods. For instance, the claim that the pill “shrinks your clitoris” is often taken out of context. Meanwhile, London GP Jenny Dhingra observes a growing aversion to hormonal methods in clinics, with patients citing fears of side effects after exposure to online content.

NHS Data and a Shifting Trend

The NHS lists common side effects of hormonal contraception, including headaches, nausea, mood changes, weight gain, breast tenderness, and acne, but emphasizes these often improve over time. It also acknowledges a slight increase in blood clot and breast cancer risks, though these are described as “very low.” However, Jenny Hall, a UCL professor of reproductive health, points out that NHS statistics may not fully reflect changing usage patterns. Data from 2018 to 2023 suggests a decline in hormonal contraceptive use among women seeking abortions in England and Wales. A 2023 review further found that negative side effects are discussed more frequently online than the benefits of these methods.

“The content has a right-wing, religious, largely American element,” Evans says, “and is often framed in terms of ‘clean living’ and ‘divine femininity.'”

Despite these concerns, the truth remains: fear-driven stories tend to capture attention and spread rapidly, even as scientific evidence continues to support the safety and efficacy of hormonal contraception for many users.