One-third of young women who don't take birth control say they fear its side effects. Misinformation plays a role, a health expert says.

Jul 28, 2025 Health Misinformation and Trust initiative, KFF President and CEO Drew Altman
Shoshana Kaplan

As long as contraception has been widely available, misconceptions about its safety—from weight gain fears to claims you need a birth control “cleanse” every few years—have scared some young women away from using it. Today, this kind of misinformation is no longer solely circulated in locker rooms or sleepovers. In the modern digital world, active misinformation and disinformation campaigns that deter people from using contraception circulate on social media—reaching millions.

The origin of this issue varies. Sometimes, rumors about birth control are intentionally created and promoted for political purposes; this is disinformation. Sometimes, false claims are unintentionally spread by people who believe their statements are true. Other times, one person misrepresents their real, lived experience as a universal truth.

Continued: https://rewirenewsgroup.com/2025/07/28/opinion-contraception-gives-young-women-control-of-their-bodies-so-why-are-so-many-girls-afraid-to-use-it/