Misinformation about hormonal birth control is all over social media.

The resources, articles, and studies below about hormonal birth control are from verified scholarly sources, medical organizations, and well researched journalistic articles. The decision about what form of birth control method to use is deeply personal and should be made using the most accurate information available, not from social media influencers who are not medically trained or educated.

Please discuss your options with your medical provider. If you need help finding a medical provider, I’ve included links to find a low cost medical clinic in your area, as well as information about TWU Student Health Services.

about the artist

I worked in the healthcare field for fifteen years prior to pursuing my Master’s in Fine Art at Texas Woman’s University. Most important to my current body of work was five years spent working at a non-profit women’s health clinic which exposed me to the importance that access to contraception and accurate information regarding reproductive health has in the lives of all of us who identify as women. I spent those years learning everything I could about contraceptive options and want to share that knowledge with others so they can make informed options about their reproductive care.

ARTICLES

• What's the deal with claims that birth control is dangerous? (NPR)

• Examining the facts about contraceptives as birth control misinformation spreads online (PBS)

• This Crunchy, MAHA-Inspired Birth Control Method Is Trending At The Worst Possible Time (HuffPost)

• Who Am I Without Birth Control? (NYT pdf)

• Dangerous Trend: TikTok Influencers Giving Inaccurate Birth Control Advice (Orlando Health)

• Online misinformation putting women off contraceptive pill, study finds (The Guardian)

• How influencers and content creators discuss birth control on social media: What research shows (Journalist Resource)

RESEARCH

• An analysis of oral contraceptive related videos on TikTok (pdf)

• “Do You Know What Birth Control Actually Does to Your Body?”: Assessing Contraceptive Information on TikTok (pdf)

• What Do Social Media Influencers Say About Birth Control? A Content Analysis of YouTube Vlogs About Birth Control (pdf)

FACT SHEETS

• Effectiveness of Birth Control Methods (ACOG pdf)

• The Pill History Fact Sheet (Planned Parenthood pdf)

• Birth Control Methods (OWH pdf)

SOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HORMONAL BIRTH CONTROL

• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)

GETTING THE MEDICAL CARE YOU NEED

• Finding a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). FQHCs are local medical centers that typically work on a sliding scale and take most insurances.

• Texas Woman’s University Student Health Services (appointments required). TWU Student Health Services is available to currently enrolled students. “The scope of clinic services emphasizes primary and preventative healthcare as you would receive from your family physician.”