Myths and Misinformation: Staying Safe When Learning About Contraception Online

Have you ever read something online that sounded true but turned out to be false?

You’re not alone. During our 2025 survey of 2,001 people aged 16–24 across the UK, we found that over a third (35%) had learned something about contraception on TikTok or social media that wasn’t true*.

Understanding how contraception works is so important because it is key to using it safely and effectively.

“I took the morning after pill twice within a week but had already ovulated, so it was a pointless and expensive exercise.” – Anonymous, 24, UK (from our My Morning After series)

“Didn’t realise I could get pregnant within a month of my implant being removed.” – Anonymous (survey of 2,001 people aged 16-24 in the UK*)

Let’s look at the rise in popularity of “natural” methods in recent years as an example. The rhythm method (or natural family planning) has exploded in popularity, boosted massively by influencers who don’t want to use hormonal contraception. While the rhythm method can be very effective when used perfectly, if instructions aren’t followed exactly, 24 out of 100 women could get pregnant when tracking fertility for a year. It also does not protect against STIs – your best option there is a barrier method of contraception, like condoms.

Tracking ovulation through temperature, cervical mucus and cycle dates requires consistency and precision, but things like stress or conditions such as PCOS can throw cycles off, cervical mucus isn’t reliable for everyone, and your temperature can be affected by a variety of factors such as illness or even drinking alcohol. Therefore, this method may not be suitable for everyone, and it’s essential to consider your own personal circumstances or consult a healthcare professional to determine if the rhythm method is suitable for you.

When exploring different contraceptive methods, you might come across others sharing their personal experiences online. It’s important to remember that while these experiences often contain valuable information, personal anecdotes are not always rooted in scientific evidence. It’s a good idea to look at multiple sources and discuss your options with your GP or a pharmacist before making any significant decisions.

Openness around contraception and reproductive health is a good thing, but the challenge comes when influencers move past sharing personal stories and start discouraging evidence based options such as hormonal contraception or condoms. This advice can directly contradict medical guidance. A survey of over 2,700 young people carried out by sexual health charity Brook found that 66% of respondents were most likely to consider information that they had found online when choosing a contraceptive method.

The good news is that there are trustworthy sources out there, and even a questionable post can be a useful starting point if you know how to check it. Here’s how:

• Check the source: Is the post coming from a healthcare provider, a sexual health organisation, or a peer-reviewed paper?
  
• If it’s sponsored content, are you able to fact-check the claims being made?
• Look for red flags: Be cautious of absolutes (“never use X”), fear-based content, or advice based purely on one person’s story.
• Fact-check before acting: The NHS, WHO and sexual health charities all provide clear, evidence-based resources.
• Ask a professional: If you’re unsure, a GP, pharmacist or sexual health nurse can give advice personalised to you, your experience, and what you’re looking for.

At ellaOne, we’re committed to sharing accurate, non-judgmental information about contraception and sexual health. Everything we publish is subject to regulatory review, and we always do our best to provide reliable sources. However, digital literacy is vital, and we’d never encourage you to skip your own research or fact-checking.

The internet is an incredible resource, but not everything you read is true. Take the opportunity to ask questions, learn, and make informed choices about your reproductive health. It’s okay to seek answers online; just make sure you’re getting them from reliable, science-backed sources.

This year, ellaOne has partnered with Brook, the UK’s leading charity for sexual health and well-being for young people, to bring attention to the need for better sex education, particularly when it comes to contraception. One of the aims of Brook’s new RSE module is to help young people to learn how to think critically about what they learn online, as well as to provide useful, up-to-date information about contraception.

*Based on 2001 sexually active 16-24 year olds surveyed across the UK 2025.

ellaOne® 30mg film-coated tablet contains ulipristal acetate and is indicated for emergency contraception within 120 hours (5 days) of unprotected sexual intercourse or contraceptive failure. Always read the label.

https://www.ellaone.co.uk/magazine/my-morning-after-stories/i-wish-id-known-more-about-the-effectiveness-of-the-morning-after-pill/
https://www.theguardian.com/society/shortcuts/2017/dec/11/return-of-the-rhythm-method-how-natural-contraception-went-digital
https://www.nhs.uk/contraception/methods-of-contraception/natural-family-planning/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/rhythm-method-birth-control
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/basal-body-temperature/about/pac-20393026
https://www.brook.org.uk/campaigns/easy-report/
https://www.nhs.uk/contraception/
https://www.who.int/health-topics/contraception