10 Nov 2026 02:00
Why are people turning to 'natural' birth control?
Some people are trading traditional birth control for methods like fertility tracking to avoid getting pregnant.
How effective are these approaches? And why are people attracted to these "natural" methods?
Naomi* and Tegan discuss some of these methods, and how side effects of contraceptives might be contributing to this shift.
*Dr Naomi Koh Belic is filling in for Norman Swan as he recovers from his knee replacement! Keep an eye out for Dr Naomi's Fact or Fiction on the ABC Science YouTube.
References:
- “Do You Know What Birth Control Actually Does to Your Body?”: Assessing Contraceptive Information on TikTok
- Hormonal Birth Control Misinformation on TikTok: A Content Analysis of Influencer Narratives
- Self-reported contraceptive method use at conception among patients presenting for abortion in England: a cross-sectional analysis comparing 2018 and 2023
- Reasons for rejecting hormonal contraception in Western countries: A systematic review
- Contraceptive-Induced Weight Gain—Myth and Reality Review
- Association of Hormonal Contraception With Depression
- Pilot Data on the Feasibility And Clinical Outcomes of a Nomegestrol Acetate Oral Contraceptive Pill in Women With Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
- Common myths and misconceptions surrounding hormonal contraception
- Endometrial cancer and oral contraceptives : an individual participant meta-analysis of 27,276 women with endometrial cancer from 36 epidemiological studies
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