Scrolling although #birthcontrol on social media is sort of a field of sweets. You by no means know what you’re going to get.
In a single video, a girl turns to disclose a dramatic weight achieve, blaming birth control pills. In one other, healthcare suppliers (HCPs) carry out a choreographed dance holding vaginal rings. A 3rd publish says, “Contraception makes you date crappy males.”
Social media makes it straightforward to place a message — any message, actually — into the world, however media has lengthy influenced conversations about ladies’s well being.
Melissa Jordan, a registered nurse, stated she remembers the extremely publicized Ladies’s Well being Initiative examine in 2002 that incorrectly stated taking estrogen causes breast most cancers. The outcomes of the poorly performed examine dominated the information and scared tens of millions of ladies away from protected and efficient hormone therapy. Jordan stated some ladies nonetheless consider these outcomes as a result of there’s a number of misinformation about ladies’s well being on the market — particularly on social media.
“There’s little [accurate] info or schooling relating to menopause. I can solely think about that there’s even much less relating to sexual well being and contraception,” Jordan stated.
On one hand, social media provides extra accessibility to info general. Research exhibits some ladies, particularly youthful ladies, look to social media for perception on vital matters like contraception.
However how are you aware what you’re listening to is true? And worse, what if it’s not?
Social media influencers and contraception
“Mis- and dis-information round contraception and sexual well being run rampant on social media,” stated Raegan McDonald-Mosley, M.D., MPH, CEO of the nonprofit group Power to Decide.
It may be even more durable to inform what’s truth vs. fiction when it looks like the knowledge is coming from a trusted pal. Social media influencers — folks with a number of followers — can play a component in swaying opinions about birth control. And adverse private experiences can lead folks to unfold misinformation.
For instance, one study discovered that influencers who had a adverse tone about hormonal contraception exaggerated the dangers and uncomfortable side effects in comparison with non-hormonal choices.
“Readers ought to be involved as a result of hormonophobia [fear about hormones based on irrational causes] can gasoline misinformation and stop ladies from making knowledgeable reproductive healthcare selections,” stated Emily Pfender, an writer of the examine and Ph.D. candidate on the College of Delaware.
One other study co-authored by Pfender discovered that influencers who talked about stopping hormonal contraception didn’t discuss substitute choices. “This sends a message to viewers that utilizing contraception is just not vital and will promote dangerous habits,” Pfender stated. “When influencers did begin a brand new contraception, it was most frequently fertility awareness-based strategies, which have excessive error charges and require particular data to make use of appropriately.”
Social media and shared decision-making
On the subject of making well being selections on your sexual and reproductive well being, it’s vital to know the supply behind the knowledge you’re taking in.
When unsure, McDonald-Mosley stated to ask your self the next questions:
- Is the knowledge from a reputable medical supply or supplier?
- Can you discover the identical info from one other trusted useful resource?
- When was the knowledge you’re taking a look at printed?
- Does the particular person’s perspective appear overly biased or political?
Robyn Faye, M.D., an OB-GYN and member of HealthyWomen’s Women’s Health Advisory Council, stated she turns to her trusted social community — science — when sufferers carry up questionable theories. “I’ll pull up the newest articles from the CDC database and present them the knowledge I’ve,” she stated. “I actually simply need to argue the purpose and, most often, it really works.”
Faye famous that almost all healthcare suppliers need to have an open dialog concerning the unusual stuff you learn on social media. They need to take the time to share info and ask questions. This results in shared decision-making and discovering the perfect contraception choice that works for you, your well being and your reproductive objectives.
Nonetheless, it could be onerous to alter somebody’s opinion in the event that they really feel strongly about what they’ve learn on-line. That is completely effective, Faye stated. However she cautioned towards placing an excessive amount of inventory in folks you don’t know.
Misinformation on social media can have a harmful impact on ladies’s well being. However it doesn’t need to be this manner. Data is energy, and confirming any info or considerations along with your HCP might help you see the entire image — not only a small sq..
McDonald-Mosley stated too many individuals lack general data about reproductive and sexual well being as a result of they by no means realized about it at school or the group. That is the place the constructive results of social media channels can shine by bridging the hole in accessible well being info.
“Social media is just not all unhealthy. It’s, in actual fact, a strong device that can be utilized to achieve folks the place they’re with correct info they should take management of their reproductive and sexual well being.”
You may’t belief every little thing you learn on-line. However should you do analysis and speak to your HCP, you may defend your self from misinformation.
This useful resource was created with help from Organon, a HealthyWomen Company Advisory Council member.