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?
Milly Evans, a seasoned sex educator with six years of experience, found herself questioning her contraception decisions as she prepared for a hormonal coil (IUS) procedure. Despite her professional knowledge, social media had begun to cast doubt on her confidence, swamping her feed with posts that challenged the safety and efficacy of hormonal methods. For six months, she hesitated before finally booking her appointment.
Evans, who has been accredited for six years, recalls being unsettled by the tone of some content. “Some of the claims I saw were so compelling that they made me question what I already know to be true,” she says. This pattern is not unique to her; many young women online encounter similar debates about hormonal contraceptives like the pill, coil, and implant. Discussions often split into two camps: personal accounts of side effects and posts spreading misinformation, frequently tying hormones to ideological views.
“The content has a ‘right-wing, religious, largely American element,’ Evans says, and is often framed in terms of ‘clean living’ and ‘divine femininity.'”
How social media shapes perceptions
Lauren Haslam, a 25-year-old from Manchester, follows fitness and wellness influencers whose posts sometimes portray hormonal contraception as “unnatural” or “demonising.” She has relied on the combined pill for four years, using it to manage her premenstrual dysphoric disorder, a severe form of premenstrual syndrome. “The pill has ‘honestly changed my life,’ but the posts make my positive experience feel ‘invalidated,’” Haslam explains.
In the U.S., the spread of anti-hormonal rhetoric has accelerated, often amplified by social media. A post from a new mother holding her unplanned baby, for instance, sparked widespread discussion. A comment beneath it, garnering over 800 likes, declared: “Birth control is ‘so bad for you.'” Another user likened contraception to a burden, claiming it “sucks” and linked the pill to feelings of depression.
Experts weigh in on the misinformation
Psychosexual and relationship therapist Evie Plumb notes that even individuals with medical credentials contribute to the spread of inaccurate claims. Dr. Fran Yarlett, medical director at the women’s health platform the Lowdown, acknowledges that while some arguments are misleading, others stem from studies with questionable methods. For example, the idea that the pill can “shrink your clitoris” is often presented without context.
Meanwhile, London GP Jenny Dhingra observes a growing aversion to hormonal methods in her clinic. Patients increasingly cite concerns about side effects and express fear after engaging with social media content. The NHS lists common side effects—such as headaches, nausea, and mood swings—as temporary, though it also notes that hormonal contraception may slightly elevate risks of blood clots and breast cancer.
Tracking the shift in contraception trends
Jenny Hall, a professor of reproductive health at UCL, highlights the challenge of measuring how much online discourse affects UK contraception usage. NHS data, she explains, doesn’t account for those who obtain the pill through pharmacies or the fact that some devices are now prescribed for extended periods without replacement. However, overall trends suggest a move away from hormonal methods.
A study published last year indicates a decline in the proportion of women using hormonal contraception for pregnancy prevention between 2018 and 2023, based on data from tens of thousands of abortion seekers in England and Wales. Additionally, a recent review found that negative side effects are discussed more frequently on social media than the benefits of contraception. This dynamic, experts warn, ensures that fear-based narratives often dominate public perception.
