If you search “birth control” on TikTok, you will be bombarded by influencers sharing horrible stories about birth control ruining their mind and bodies. Name any side effect: fatigue, weight gain, depression and even infertility. They tell you hormonal birth control caused it, and it's the “poison” that’s ruining your life.
For example, Alex Clark, who hosts a youth conservative podcast for Turning Point USA, recently shared that she viewed hormonal birth control as “synthetic," while pregnancy is “natural.” Candace Owens had similar comments, saying hormonal birth control is “not normal.”
The alleged less harmful alternative is natural cycle-tracking, which uses different methods to track body temperature or hormones to identify when you’re fertile. There are tons of new apps and devices marketed towards women to help them get “in tune” with their bodies' natural cycles without invasive medicines or devices.
However, cycle tracking has a 23% failure rate with typical use and only works for women with a consistent and regular menstrual cycle. While influencers tell women that birth control is destroying their bodies, an unwanted pregnancy caused by incorrect cycle tracking can do far worse.
The problem doesn’t lie with women sharing their negative experiences. It’s well known that hormonal birth control isn’t right for everybody. In fact, 52% of women shared that the side effects are more severe than they expected, and only 30% of women say they felt fully informed before picking a birth control method.
Like any medication, there are annoying side effects, and certain types of birth control may not work with your lifestyle and body. However, that’s also why you shouldn’t listen to influencers' opinions over science; every woman is different. If you’re ready to consult a doctor about birth control, you can do so at Ohio University’s Hudson Health Center, which also offers STI testing and other gynecologic care.
The problem is the misinformation being spread about the alternatives that are scaring young women away from science and medically based facts.
I have been lucky enough to have a positive experience with birth control, and I would recommend it to anybody who asks. However, it’s still on a case-by-case basis. A girl could be the same height and weight as me with the same lifestyle, and she could still react negatively to the same birth control.
It seems like we have lost the plot on how essential it is to have easy access to birth control. Contraception has allowed women to pursue higher education and have control over their own autonomy. For those who don’t have pregnancy in mind, birth control also helps clear up skin, regulate periods and prevent ovarian cysts.
A recent study found that 53% of videos made about birth control are negative or explain negative experiences. Only 10% of videos regarding birth control are made by licensed professionals. Most videos are made by self-proclaimed “hormone coaches” or everyday users with no medical experience.
Viewers consume this information as truth without searching for any further qualifications because it’s easier to trust a relatable influencer, especially if they have similar negative experiences. You’re more inclined to listen to somebody who is like you, rather than your 50-year-old male doctor.
Nicole Bendayan is a self-proclaimed “cycle-syncing nutritionist” who has amassed 800k followers on TikTok. Bendayan tells her followers hormonal birth control is causing vitamin depletion and weight gain. Her solution? A three-month virtual program that analyzes blood in search of hormone imbalances that costs hundreds of dollars.
Scrolling through Bendayan’s account, you can see that nearly every single video is promoting a product or service. There’s even a link in her bio to join her one-on-one “cycle revival program” for $2,500.
There are hundreds of influencers like Bendayan who market their expensive courses and products towards a vulnerable audience trying to navigate womanhood. These are influencers, not medical professionals. We forget they make the majority of their money through sponsorships and brand deals, meaning these influencers may have never even used the apps or products they’re promoting.
Physicians say they have seen an increase in young women questioning hormonal birth control or avoiding it altogether due to the negative stigma on social media. However, they also warn that natural cycle tracking can lead to an unwanted pregnancy.
When choosing a birth control method, don’t listen to unqualified social media personalities, listen to your body and medical professionals.
Abby Shriver is a freshman studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Abby about their column? Email them at as064024@ohio.edu.
