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 lady 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 publish says, “Contraception makes you date crappy males.”
Social media makes it simple 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, mentioned she remembers the extremely publicized Girls’s Well being Initiative research in 2002 that incorrectly mentioned taking estrogen causes breast most cancers. The outcomes of the poorly carried out research dominated the information and scared tens of millions of ladies away from secure and efficient hormone remedy. Jordan mentioned some ladies nonetheless consider these outcomes as a result of there’s quite a lot of misinformation about ladies’s well being on the market — particularly on social media.
“There’s little [accurate] data or schooling 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 presents extra accessibility to data total. Analysis reveals some ladies, particularly youthful ladies, look to social media for perception on essential matters like contraception.
However how have you learnt 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 Determine.
It may be even tougher to inform what’s reality vs. fiction when it appears like the knowledge is coming from a trusted pal. Social media influencers — folks with quite a lot of followers — can play a component in swaying opinions about contraception. And destructive private experiences can lead folks to unfold misinformation.
For instance, one research discovered that influencers who had a destructive tone about hormonal contraception exaggerated the dangers and uncomfortable side effects in comparison with non-hormonal choices.
“Readers needs 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,” mentioned Emily Pfender, an creator of the research and Ph.D. candidate on the College of Delaware.
One other research 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 isn’t essential and will promote dangerous conduct,” 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 accurately.”
Social media and shared decision-making
In relation to making well being choices to your sexual and reproductive well being, it’s essential to know the supply behind the knowledge you’re taking in.
When unsure, 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 data from one other trusted useful resource?
- When was the knowledge you’re revealed?
- Does the individual’s perspective appear overly biased or political?
Robyn Faye, M.D., an OB-GYN and member of HealthyWomen’s Girls’s Well being Advisory Council, mentioned she turns to her trusted social community — science — when sufferers deliver 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, normally, it really works.”
Faye famous that almost all healthcare suppliers wish to have an open dialog concerning the unusual stuff you learn on social media. They wish to take the time to share data 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 targets.
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 superb, Faye mentioned. However she cautioned in opposition to 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 should be this fashion. Information is energy, and confirming any data or considerations along with your HCP can assist you see the entire image — not only a small sq..
McDonald-Mosley mentioned too many individuals lack total 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, in truth, a strong device that can be utilized to achieve folks the place they’re with correct data they should take management of their reproductive and sexual well being.”
You possibly can’t belief all the things you learn on-line. However should you do analysis and speak to your HCP, you’ll be able to defend your self from misinformation.
This useful resource was created with help from Organon, a HealthyWomen Company Advisory Council member.
