Credit score: Unsplash/CC0 Public Area
Deceptive contraception recommendation on TikTok is exposing younger individuals to an elevated danger of unplanned pregnancies, in accordance with new analysis by La Trobe College.
The research, revealed within the journal Views on Sexual and Reproductive Well being, analyzed 100 TikTok movies on contraceptive well being that had collectively gained almost 5 billion views and 14.6 million likes.
The researchers discovered greater than half (53%) of TikTok content material creators reviewed clearly rejected hormonal contraception, whereas a couple of third (34%) expressed mistrust in well being professionals. Fertility consciousness and cycle monitoring (38%) and the capsule (35%) have been probably the most incessantly mentioned topics.
Lead researcher, Dr. Caroline de Moel-Mandel from La Trobe College’s College of Psychology and Public Well being, stated TikTok was a rising supply of contraceptive info for younger adults, however a lot of the content material was unreliable and of poor high quality, placing strain on younger individuals to type reality from fiction.
“Many TikTok creators promoted natural contraceptive methods like fertility tracking without disclosing their limitations, which include accurately tracking hormone fluctuations, motivation and partner cooperation,” Dr. Moel-Mandel stated.
“Importantly, they failed to mention that these methods are generally ineffective when used on their own. This kind of misinformation, combined with a growing distrust in health care professionals, can result in unsafe decisions and ultimately, unplanned pregnancies.”
Solely 10% of the analyzed movies have been created by well being professionals, whereas the remainder featured first-hand experiences and beliefs from influencers and normal uploaders, or recommendation from self-proclaimed “hormonal health coaches” or wellness educators with vital attain.
Co-author and La Trobe lecturer in public well being Megan Bugden stated whereas movies by well being professionals gained on common extra likes and followers, TikTok’s algorithm amplified influencers’ voices with better attain over medical specialists.
“Social media is reshaping health care providers’ relationships with patients,” Bugden stated.
“We encourage health professionals to rebuild trust through shared decision-making on contraceptive options, which may increase patient satisfaction and mitigate unreliable information posted online.”
With TikTok’s widespread attain, ladies’s and public well being organizations even have a big function to play in countering misinformation.
“Young people deserve accurate information to make informed contraceptive health decisions, regardless of background or resources,” Bugden stated.
“Public health organizations should collaborate with social influencers to promote safe and effective contraceptive information through messages that resonate with younger audiences.”
Extra info:
Caroline de Moel-Mandel et al, “Do You Know What Birth Control Actually Does to Your Body?”: Assessing Contraceptive Data on TikTok, Views on Sexual and Reproductive Well being (2025). DOI: 10.1111/psrh.70025
Supplied by
La Trobe College
Quotation:
TikTok contraception posts expose individuals to danger (2025, August 12)
retrieved 12 August 2025
from https://medicalxpress.com/information/2025-08-tiktok-birth-expose-people.html
This doc is topic to copyright. Other than any honest dealing for the aim of personal research or analysis, no
half could also be reproduced with out the written permission. The content material is offered for info functions solely.
