Social media users celebrate improved access to birth control with over-the-counter option
Meanwhile, commenters debated a lawsuit aiming to restrict access to abortion pills, resurfacing false claims that they are unsafe.
Meanwhile, commenters debated a lawsuit aiming to restrict access to abortion pills, resurfacing false claims that they are unsafe.
Last week, social media users celebrated a new study that found that the over-the-counter birth control pill Opill is improving access to contraception. Plus, news about a lawsuit aiming to restrict access to the abortion pill mifepristone sparked an uptick in false claims that abortion pills are unsafe.
In response, communicators may recirculate information about Opill, other birth control options, and abortion pills.
Insights brought to you by the reporters and science writers of Public Good News (PGN), a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to improving community health.
What’s trending nationally in conversations about reproductive health:
A study published in JAMA Network Open on August 18 found that Opill—the first and only FDA-approved over-the-counter birth control pill—is improving access to contraception, particularly among those who face barriers to care. Compared with those who use a prescription birth control pill, Opill users were 32 percentage points more likely to have been using no contraception before they began using the pill. The researchers wrote, “Women from minoritized racial and ethnic groups, adolescents, the uninsured, and Medicaid recipients all experience higher rates of maternal morbidity and mortality. We found that [Opill] is being used at higher rates by these populations, suggesting it may help reduce preventable maternal morbidity by reducing unintended pregnancies.” Most social media users celebrated the study’s findings, and some expressed concern that the government could stop people from accessing Opill or increase its price.
On August 22, Texas and Florida asked a federal judge to allow the states to join a lawsuit led by Missouri, Kansas, and Idaho aiming to restrict access to the abortion pill mifepristone. The lawsuit argues that the FDA inappropriately eased restrictions in 2021 when the agency allowed mifepristone to be prescribed through telehealth and sent by mail. Many social media posts spoke out against the lawsuit. Some social media users shared positive personal experiences about accessing abortion pills through telehealth, and a few expressed concern that potential mifepristone restrictions would lead people to seek unregulated, unsafe abortion methods. Others expressed support for the lawsuit, falsely claiming that abortion pills are unsafe.
Recommendations brought to you by the health communication experts behind Infodemiology.com.
Recommendations for public health professionals
Each week, the Infodemiology.com team will provide messaging recommendations in response to some of the trending narratives outlined above. These helpful tips can be used when creating content, updating web and FAQ pages, and developing strategy for messaging about reproductive health.
Given online conversations about Opill, messaging may explain that Opill is the first and only FDA-approved birth control pill available without a prescription. Opill is available at most pharmacies and online, and it’s safe for most people who could become pregnant. Opill is not recommended for people who previously had or currently have breast cancer or for people who are using another type of birth control pill, implant, patch, injection, vaginal ring, or IUD. Communicators may emphasize that no form of birth control is 100 percent effective, so birth control pills like Opill work best when they are consistently used in combination with safer sex barriers, like condoms, which also protect against sexually transmitted infections. Communicators may also want to recirculate information about other birth control options.
Online conversations about abortion pills provide an opportunity to reiterate that abortion pills are a safe and effective way to end a pregnancy. The risk of major complications is less than 1 percent. Communicators may want to share resources like AbortionFinder.org, which helps people find reputable abortion providers; Plan C, which offers information about accessing abortion pills in every state; and the Repro Legal Helpline, which connects people with lawyers who can answer questions about abortion, miscarriage, and birth. Ensuring that any materials outlining local abortion laws are up to date is recommended.