"Social media misinformation about the contraceptive pill is encouraging women to view it so negatively that many give it up, a study has found. Researchers have identified myths spread on TikTok and other social media platforms as a key driver of users suffering side-effects that are real but psychological in origin. It is called the nocebo effect, the opposite of the better-known placebo effect."
"The pill remains the most popular form of contraception in England, but the proportion of women who access NHS sexual health services and use the pill as their form of birth control fell from 39% in 2020-21 to 28% in 2023-24. Sexual health experts believe the decline in uptake, and the fact that two-thirds of women who use it stop doing so within two years,"
Social media misinformation about the contraceptive pill is encouraging women to view it negatively and stop using it. Myths spread on TikTok and other platforms are driving users to experience side-effects that are real but psychological in origin, a nocebo effect linked to anxiety, depression and fatigue. Pill uptake among women accessing NHS sexual health services fell from 39% in 2020-21 to 28% in 2023-24. Two-thirds of women who use the pill stop within two years. The decline in pill use is associated with a sharp rise in abortions, reaching 251,377 in 2022, 17% higher than the previous year. Influencers warn against the pill and promote natural alternatives.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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