‘Hormone Phobia’ Makes Women Reassess Birth Control Methods

Published 18 September 2023

Author
Nienke Creemers
2 min read

Fuelled by discussions about women’s health, a deeper understanding of menstrual cycles – and scepticism towards doctors prescribing contraception haphazardly – is stoking a negative outpour against hormonal contraceptives. Consequently, some women are abandoning hormonal contraception and embracing natural cycles – and seeking guidance along the way.

  • Ditching the Pill: Despite the usefulness of birth control pills, some women are questioning their impact on physical and mental wellbeing. Those who stop hormonal contraception (like the pill or coil) quote clarity, heightened energy and stabilised moods. But they’re not skipping birth control – they’re using condoms or fertility awareness methods, such as basal temperature readings.

 

  • A Natural Influence?: TikTok has become a hotbed of influencers – or cycle awareness coaches – encouraging others to ditch hormonal birth control via tags like #gettingoffbirthcontrol (19.3 million views) and “natural birth control” (1.2 billion views). Videos aim to spread knowledge (true or not) about artificial hormones’ effects on mood and energy levels.

    The influence isn’t wholly positive: research shows that 38% of posts about IUDs are negative, while 28% of creators express distrust in healthcare (Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2023). Meanwhile, the Netherlands’ Association of Abortion Doctors (NGVA) recently noted an increase in abortions among women aged 18-28, which it attributes to TikTok-disseminated non-hormonal birth control methods.

 

  • Science-Backed Cycles: As women seek information, self-help books on managing menstrual cycles are proliferating. British nutritionist Le’Nise Brothers’ You Can Have a Better Period helps menstruators balance hormones through nutrition and lifestyle adjustments. And 2023-published Cycles by American author Amy J Hammer details the history of reproductive science and teaches readers to track their cycles.

    Femtech start-ups aim to ease the symptoms of day-to-day hormonal changes (such as PMS). Guud (Belgium) formulates supplements to relieve fatigue and stabilise moods. New York-based Aavia offers a Gen-Z-targeted hormonal health tracker – dubbed “hormonoscope” – that predicts how users might feel on any given day of their cycle and provides advice on managing hormonal woes.

 

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