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Social Media Misinformation Linked to Decline in Contraceptive Pill Use

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A study by researchers at Sheffield University has found that social media misinformation about the contraceptive pill is discouraging women from using it, leading to a significant decline in its use. The study identified the "nocebo effect", a phenomenon where people experience adverse effects due to negative expectations, as a key driver of the decline. This effect is closely linked to anxiety, depression, and fatigue, with experts suggesting that it has been exacerbated by the rise of anti-pharmaceutical and anti-fact rhetoric on social media.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that 97% of women who used the pill experienced at least one side-effect, but almost all of these side-effects were psychological in origin.
  • The "nocebo effect" was associated with four psychological factors: an expectation of harm, low confidence in medication development, a belief that medicines are overused and harmful, and a sensitivity to medicines.
  • The study found that negative messaging about the pill in the media and a belief that medicines are harmful or overused raised the risk of women reacting badly to it.
  • The use of the pill as a form of birth control among women who access NHS sexual health services fell from 39% in 2020-21 to 28% in 2023-24.
  • The number of abortions in England and Wales rose sharply in recent years, hitting an all-time high of 251,377 in 2022.
  • Experts believe that the decline in pill use and the rise in abortions are linked, and that online misinformation is a major contributing factor.
  • The study's authors suggest that "psychological interventions", such as challenging negative beliefs about medication, could be used to cut side-effects and keep women using the pill.

Statistics:

  • 97% of women who used the pill experienced at least one side-effect, but almost all of these side-effects were psychological in origin.
  • The study involved 275 women aged 18-45 who had used the pill over the previous 18 months.
  • 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.
  • The number of abortions in England and Wales rose sharply in recent years, hitting an all-time high of 251,377 in 2022.

Sources:

  • "Women becoming wary of the pill due to online misinformation", The Guardian, (no date)
  • Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, "The nocebo effect: An empirical examination of the relationship between negative beliefs and oral contraceptive side-effects" by Rebecca Webster and Lorna Reid (2022)
  • "The pill remains the most popular form of contraception in England, though use of it has fallen sharply", The Guardian, (no date)

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