Online influencers in the fields of health and fitness are well-liked by Emily Pfender. Yet the University of Delaware PhD student who specialises in health communication couldn't help but notice that several of those influencers were bringing up a certain topic: quitting their chemical birth control.
She discovered that particular YouTube vloggers created content regarding their experiences using contraceptives and what are referred to as natural family planning or fertility awareness practises. In this method, individuals carefully monitor their menstrual cycle, perhaps with the aid of an app, in order to determine when they may become pregnant. Fertility awareness techniques are more effective from 77 to 98 percent of the time than chemical birth control, which is effective 90 to 99 percent of the time, depending on the type.
To put it another way, switching from chemical contraception to fertility awareness approaches can be a big risk, and those who have discussed the subject haven't always provided correct or comprehensive information.
Pfender set out to research the issue because she was curious as to if more influencers were disseminating similar messages. Her research was recently published in the journal Health Communication. The findings imply that followers could be mislead by influencers who are eager to share their personal journey, even if their advice would cause someone else to become pregnant unintentionally or without their consent.
People simply find the influencers to be so approachable and genuine, which, according to Pfender, is what makes them so persuasive. It's a common way of thinking to assume that "if it works for them, it must work for me," but that isn't always the case.
A big opportunity for influencers
Between December 2019 and December 2021, Pfender and another researcher viewed 50 YouTube vlogs from users with at least 20,000 followers. A typical account had close to 400,000 subscribers. The majority of influencers wished to stop using hormonal contraception to "be more natural" and to better their mental health, according to the researchers' analysis of birth control-related remarks made by vloggers. Numerous birth control methods use hormones that are produced naturally and stop ovulation. A modest increase in the incidence of depression has been associated to the use of hormonal birth control, according to some studies, but not others.
The controversy surrounding this issue, along with the obvious need for people to make decisions that improve their mental health and wellbeing, presents a significant potential for influencers to promote fertility awareness techniques as the solution.
Pfender discovered, however, that influencers didn't always disseminate thorough or accurate information. For instance, some influencers promoted Daysy, a hormone-free fertility tracking tool, as being highly effective while omitting the fact that the study that was used to support that claim was withdrawn in 2019 due to methodological issues.
However, influencers frequently excluded more comprehensive information regarding reproductive awareness techniques, which are less successful for females, those with unexpected or irregular menstrual cycles, as well as those who experience abnormal uterine or cervical bleeding. The procedures work best when people rigorously adhere to the instructions, which involve taking daily measurements of both the cervical fluid's viscosity and basal body temperature at the same time, as well as abstaining from sex or using a barrier method on the days when they are most fertile. Influencers, according to Pfender, would acknowledge having a thermometer nearby but would ignore crucial information regarding when and how to utilise it.
Only 20% of the influencers who had previously used hormonal contraception began using any type of birth control, according to Pfender's research, indicating that they were okay with the potential of an unintended pregnancy. This danger might make sense for the influencers because many of them were financially secure and were married or in committed relationships, but not for the younger followers who did not have stable employment, housing, or relationships.
There might be a problem, according to Pfender.
She advises people to take this kind of media "with a grain of salt" and to remember that birth control is "an immensely personal choice" that is based on a person's lifestyle.
How to make the choice that's right for you
Although the open discussions on contraception on social media are encouraging, Dr. Gillian Sealy, Ph.D., chief of staff of the nonprofit organisation Power to Decide, believes Pfender's study emphasises the need for reliable information from several sources.
A health care professional, such as one at a community health centre or Planned Parenthood, who will listen, provide accurate and trustworthy information, and provide alternatives, is advised to speak with, according to Sealy, who holds degrees in both health science and public health. She also recommends visiting sites like Bedsider.org, whose 18 to 29-year-old target demographic offers thorough and verified information on sexual and reproductive health, including contraception.
The popularity of non-hormonal birth control is something Sealy is aware of growing. She claims that by discussing their reproductive health on social media, influencers are bringing attention to the issue. Also, as governments implement laws that target certain methods of birth control, such as intrauterine devices and emergency contraceptives, people may become more intrigued about it when they face obstacles to acquiring it. She is aware that young viewers may find a "kinship and connection" with influencers who discuss their own sexual health experiences, but she wants them to be aware that everyone's decisions may differ.
Let's face it: Every person's journey with birth control and contraception is unique, according to Sealy. "Young people in particular need to comprehend that different approaches have different benefits. There isn't a one-size-fits-all method."
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