Scrolling although #birthcontrol on social media is sort of a field of goodies. 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 Girls’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 girls away from secure and efficient hormone therapy. Jordan stated some ladies nonetheless consider these outcomes as a result of there’s a variety of misinformation about ladies’s well being on the market — particularly on social media.
“There’s little [accurate] data or training 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 data general. Research reveals some ladies, particularly youthful ladies, look to social media for perception on necessary subjects 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 appears like the data is coming from a trusted good friend. Social media influencers — individuals with a variety of followers — can play a component in swaying opinions about birth control. And unfavourable private experiences can lead individuals to unfold misinformation.
For instance, one study discovered that influencers who had a unfavourable 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 gas misinformation and forestall ladies from making knowledgeable reproductive healthcare choices,” 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 speak about substitute choices. “This sends a message to viewers that utilizing contraception isn’t necessary 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 information to make use of accurately.”
Social media and shared decision-making
On the subject of making well being choices to your sexual and reproductive well being, it’s necessary to know the supply behind the data you’re taking in.
When unsure, McDonald-Mosley stated to ask your self the next questions:
- Is the data from a reputable medical supply or supplier?
- Can you discover the identical data from one other trusted useful resource?
- When was the data you’re printed?
- Does the individual’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 convey up questionable theories. “I’ll pull up the most recent articles from the CDC database and present them the data I’ve,” she stated. “I actually simply must argue the purpose and, typically, it really works.”
Faye famous that the majority 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 data and ask questions. This results in shared decision-making and discovering the perfect contraception possibility that works for you, your well being and your reproductive targets.
Nonetheless, it might be arduous to alter somebody’s opinion in the event that they really feel strongly about what they’ve learn on-line. That is completely advantageous, Faye stated. However she cautioned towards placing an excessive amount of inventory in individuals you don’t know.
Misinformation on social media can have a harmful impact on ladies’s well being. However it doesn’t must be this fashion. Data is energy, and confirming any data or considerations along with your HCP may help you see the entire image — not only a small sq..
McDonald-Mosley stated too many individuals lack general information 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 optimistic results of social media channels can shine by bridging the hole in accessible well being data.
“Social media isn’t all unhealthy. It’s, the truth is, a strong software that can be utilized to succeed in individuals the place they’re with correct data they should take management of their reproductive and sexual well being.”
You possibly can’t belief every thing you learn on-line. However in case you do analysis and speak to your HCP, you possibly can defend your self from misinformation.
This useful resource was created with assist from Organon, a HealthyWomen Company Advisory Council member.
