Scrolling although #birthcontrol on social media is sort of a field of candies. 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 contraception drugs. In one other, healthcare suppliers (HCPs) carry out a choreographed dance holding vaginal rings. A 3rd submit 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 girls’s well being.
Melissa Jordan, a registered nurse, mentioned she remembers the extremely publicized Ladies’s Well being Initiative examine in 2002 that incorrectly mentioned taking estrogen causes breast most cancers. The outcomes of the poorly carried out examine dominated the information and scared thousands and thousands of ladies away from secure and efficient hormone remedy. Jordan mentioned some girls nonetheless imagine these outcomes as a result of there’s loads of misinformation about girls’s well being on the market — particularly on social media.
“There’s little [accurate] info or training relating to menopause. I can solely think about that there’s even much less relating to sexual well being and contraception,” Jordan mentioned.
On one hand, social media provides extra accessibility to info general. Analysis exhibits some girls, particularly youthful girls, look to social media for perception on vital 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,” mentioned Raegan McDonald-Mosley, M.D., MPH, CEO of the nonprofit group Energy to Resolve.
It may be even tougher to inform what’s truth vs. fiction when it looks like the knowledge is coming from a trusted buddy. Social media influencers — individuals with loads of followers — can play an element in swaying opinions about contraception. And detrimental private experiences can lead individuals to unfold misinformation.
For instance, one examine discovered that influencers who had a detrimental tone about hormonal contraception exaggerated the dangers and unwanted 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 girls from making knowledgeable reproductive healthcare choices,” mentioned Emily Pfender, an creator of the examine and Ph.D. candidate on the College of Delaware.
One other examine co-authored by Pfender discovered that influencers who talked about stopping hormonal contraception didn’t discuss alternative choices. “This sends a message to viewers that utilizing contraception is just not vital and will promote dangerous habits,” Pfender mentioned. “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 appropriately.”
Social media and shared decision-making
In relation to making well being choices in your sexual and reproductive well being, it’s vital to know the supply behind the knowledge you’re taking in.
When doubtful, McDonald-Mosley mentioned 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 individual’s perspective appear overly biased or political?
Robyn Faye, M.D., an OB-GYN and member of HealthyWomen’s Ladies’s Well being Advisory Council, mentioned she turns to her trusted social community — science — when sufferers convey up questionable theories. “I’ll pull up the newest articles from the CDC database and present them the knowledge I’ve,” she mentioned. “I actually simply should argue the purpose and, usually, it really works.”
Faye famous that the majority healthcare suppliers wish to have an open dialog in regards to the unusual stuff you learn on social media. They wish to take the time to share info and ask questions. This results in shared decision-making and discovering the most effective contraception possibility that works for you, your well being and your reproductive targets.
Nonetheless, it might 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 high quality, Faye mentioned. 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 girls’s well being. However it doesn’t should be this fashion. Information is energy, and confirming any info or considerations along with your HCP might help you see the whole image — not only a small sq..
McDonald-Mosley mentioned too many individuals lack general information about reproductive and sexual well being as a result of they by no means discovered about it in class or the group. That is the place the optimistic results of social media channels can shine by bridging the hole in accessible well being info.
“Social media is just not all dangerous. It’s, actually, a robust software that can be utilized to succeed in individuals the place they’re with correct info they should take management of their reproductive and sexual well being.”
You’ll be able to’t belief the whole lot you learn on-line. However if you happen to do analysis and discuss to your HCP, you may shield your self from misinformation.
This useful resource was created with assist from Organon, a HealthyWomen Company Advisory Council member.
