Hormonal Contraceptive Side Effects and Nonhormonal Alternatives on TikTok: A Content Analysis
Emily J. Pfender,
Kate Tsiandoulas,
Stephanie R. Morain
et al.
Abstract:The use of hormonal contraceptives is decreasing in the United States alongside a growing interest in nonhormonal contraceptive options. Social media messaging may be contributing to this trend. TikTok thus offers a novel opportunity to understand how people share information about risks and alternatives for pregnancy prevention. To describe the availability and content of information about hormonal contraceptive side effects and nonhormonal contraceptive options on TikTok, we conducted a content analysis of 1… Show more
“…Vieth et al (2021) found that the internet was the most common source of contraceptive information among German women [29]. Studies, for instance, researched the experiences of birth control on YouTube [30][31][32][33], TikTok [34,35], and Reddit [36]. An analysis of German SNSs' contraception content on You-Tube, Instagram, and TikTok found clear shortcomings in the quality and completeness of information on these sites [37].…”
Section: The Pill and Mainstream Media-a Problematic Relationship?mentioning
Background
Women living in high-quality healthcare systems are more likely to use oral contraceptives at some point in their lives. Research findings have sparked controversial discussions about contraception in the scientific community and the media, potentially leading to higher rates of method discontinuation. Understanding the underlying motives for method discontinuation is crucial for reproductive health equity and future programming interventions. To address this question, this study aims to explore women’s experiences of oral contraceptive use and discontinuation on YouTube.
Methods
A concurrent explanatory mixed-methods design was used to conduct content analysis of German YouTube videos. The information from 175 videos of 158 individuals was extracted through quantitative descriptive content analysis. Twenty-one individuals were included in the qualitative content analysis.
Findings
The body was a recurring theme in the pill biographies. Women described, for example, bodily sensations as reasons for taking and stopping the pill. They also described positive and negative side effects while taking the pill and after stopping. The most common side effects of taking the pill mentioned by YouTubers were mood swings (76/158), weight gain (45/158), headaches (33/158), and depressed mood (45/158). The symptoms after discontinuation reported most were facial skin impurities (108/158), decreased mood swings (47/158), hair loss (42/158), and weight loss (36/158). Overall, women overwhelmingly rated their discontinuation experience as positive (87/91).
Conclusions
The study identified key symptoms of oral contraceptive initiation and discontinuation by portraying the experiences of female YouTubers, adding valuable insights to the understanding of method initiation and discontinuation. Further research is needed to explore women’s personal experiences with method discontinuation beyond the YouTube platform.
“…Vieth et al (2021) found that the internet was the most common source of contraceptive information among German women [29]. Studies, for instance, researched the experiences of birth control on YouTube [30][31][32][33], TikTok [34,35], and Reddit [36]. An analysis of German SNSs' contraception content on You-Tube, Instagram, and TikTok found clear shortcomings in the quality and completeness of information on these sites [37].…”
Section: The Pill and Mainstream Media-a Problematic Relationship?mentioning
Background
Women living in high-quality healthcare systems are more likely to use oral contraceptives at some point in their lives. Research findings have sparked controversial discussions about contraception in the scientific community and the media, potentially leading to higher rates of method discontinuation. Understanding the underlying motives for method discontinuation is crucial for reproductive health equity and future programming interventions. To address this question, this study aims to explore women’s experiences of oral contraceptive use and discontinuation on YouTube.
Methods
A concurrent explanatory mixed-methods design was used to conduct content analysis of German YouTube videos. The information from 175 videos of 158 individuals was extracted through quantitative descriptive content analysis. Twenty-one individuals were included in the qualitative content analysis.
Findings
The body was a recurring theme in the pill biographies. Women described, for example, bodily sensations as reasons for taking and stopping the pill. They also described positive and negative side effects while taking the pill and after stopping. The most common side effects of taking the pill mentioned by YouTubers were mood swings (76/158), weight gain (45/158), headaches (33/158), and depressed mood (45/158). The symptoms after discontinuation reported most were facial skin impurities (108/158), decreased mood swings (47/158), hair loss (42/158), and weight loss (36/158). Overall, women overwhelmingly rated their discontinuation experience as positive (87/91).
Conclusions
The study identified key symptoms of oral contraceptive initiation and discontinuation by portraying the experiences of female YouTubers, adding valuable insights to the understanding of method initiation and discontinuation. Further research is needed to explore women’s personal experiences with method discontinuation beyond the YouTube platform.
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