Emily Pfender enjoys following health and fitness social media influencers online. But a PhD student studying health communication at the University of Delaware couldn’t help but notice that some of these influencers kept bringing up a specific topic: discontinuing hormonal contraception. is to
She found YouTube vloggers in particular creating content about their experiences with birth control pills and methods known as natural family planning and fertility treatments. This approach closely tracks your menstrual cycle, sometimes using an app, to help you know when you might be fertile. Fertility treatments are effective 77% to 98% of the time for her, compared to hormonal contraception, which is effective 90% to 99% depending on type.
In other words, switching from hormonal contraceptives to fertility treatments can be quite a gamble, and influencers who speak on this topic don’t always contain accurate or complete information.
Pfender wanted to know if more influencers shared similar content, so they set out to research the question.Her findings appear in a new study published in health communicationThis result is misinterpreted by influencers whose followers are eager to share their own journeys, even if their insights could lead to someone else’s unwanted or unplanned pregnancy. This suggests that there is a possibility that
TikTok loves “natural” birth control. But is it right for you?
“Influencers are so compelling because people find them so relatable and authentic,” says Pfender. “The mindset is, ‘If this works for them, it must work for me,’ but that’s not always the case.”
Big Opportunity for Influencers
Pfender and another researcher watched 50 YouTube vlogs posted by accounts with at least 20,000 followers between December 2019 and December 2021. The average account had nearly 400,000 subscribers. Researchers sorted through blogger comments about birth control and found that most influencers wanted to stop using hormonal birth control to be “more natural” and improve their mental health. forms contain naturally occurring hormones that prevent ovulation. Some studies show a slightly increased risk of depression associated with the use of hormonal contraception, while others show otherwise.
The debate on this topic, along with the understandable urgency people feel to make choices that improve their mental health and wellbeing, creates a huge opportunity for influencers to paint fertility treatments as the answer.
However, Pfender found that influencers don’t always share comprehensive or accurate information. For example, some influencers mentioned using Daysy, a hormone-free fertility tracking product, and in 2019 the study used to prove its effectiveness was retracted due to methodological flaws. It advertised that it was very effective without mentioning what had been done.
Influencers also often omit more detailed information about fertility treatments, leaving less information for women, those with irregular or unpredictable menstrual cycles, and those with abnormal uterine or cervical bleeding. It wasn’t effective. It works best if you strictly follow guidelines that include measuring basal body temperature and cervical fluid viscosity simultaneously daily. Pfender doesn’t go into the important details of when and how to use .
Pfender also found that only 20% of influencers used some form of contraception after stopping hormonal contraception, suggesting they were content with the possibility of an unplanned pregnancy. Many influencers are financially stable, married, or in a committed relationship, so this risk may make sense to them, but they may also Probably not for younger followers who may lack stability.
“It can be a problem,” says Pfender.
She encourages her followers to view this kind of content with “a grain of salt,” keeping in mind that birth control is an “incredibly personal choice” that depends on a person’s lifestyle. We recommend that you keep
How to make the choice that’s right for you
Dr. Gillian Sealy, Ph.D., chief of staff at the reproductive and sexual health nonprofit Power to Decide, is encouraged by the candid conversations about contraception on social media, but Pfender’s research suggests that contraceptives provide accurate information. It shows the importance of obtaining multiple locations.
Sealy, who holds degrees in health sciences and public health, recommends consulting with health care professionals such as community clinics and family planning. Professionals listen, provide accurate and reliable information, and offer alternatives. She also suggests Power to Decide, her Bedsider.org-like site for 18-year-olds to her 29-year-olds, providing comprehensive, vetted sexual and reproductive health information, including contraception. doing.
Sealy recognizes the growing interest in non-hormonal contraception. She says social influencers on her media are raising the buzz by talking about reproductive health. Additionally, states have passed laws that target specific types, such as intrauterine devices and emergency contraceptives, so when people encounter barriers to access to contraception, they may be more curious about it. She understands that young viewers can feel “closeness and connection” with influencers who share their own sexual health experiences, but everyone’s choices look different. I want you to know that it is possible.
“To be honest, everyone’s birth control and birth control journey is different,” Seeley says. Yes, it is not a one-size-fits-all approach.”
