Surgeon general confirmation hearing reignites myths about birth control and prenatal SSRI use

A reality television star’s cervical cancer diagnosis also prompted conversation about screening.

Last week, comments from Surgeon General nominee Casey Means reignited false claims about birth control pills and prenatal use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Plus, a celebrity’s cervical cancer diagnosis fueled discussion about the importance of screenings.  Additionally, a podcast interview with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recharged an ongoing debate about taking acetaminophen (often sold as Tylenol) and aspirin during pregnancy.

In response, communicators may reiterate that birth control pills are safe, highlight cervical cancer screening guidelines, and share information about medication during pregnancy.

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What’s trending nationally in conversations about reproductive health:

During a February 25 Senate confirmation hearing, Surgeon General nominee Casey Means was questioned about past statements that birth control pills are overprescribed and show a “disrespect of life.” In her answers, Means expressed concern about rare side effects of birth control pills, like blood clots, and said that patients should discuss their risks with a health care provider before taking them. She also said that pregnant patients should talk to a health care provider about the risks of taking SSRIs and did not clearly state that they are safe during pregnancy. Some social media posts discussing Means’s hearing garnered millions of views as of March 4. Some commenters expressed concern about the safety of birth control pills and prenatal SSRI use. Others advocated for access to those medications and said that Means—who does not have an active medical license—is unqualified for surgeon general.

On February 20, former Jersey Shore reality television star Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi shared a TikTok video stating that she had been diagnosed with cervical cancer. The video garnered approximately 5.7 million views, 600,000 likes, and 12,000 comments as of March 4. In the video, Polizzi encouraged others to get screened for cervical cancer, as she was able to catch hers early with regular Pap smears. Commenters shared their own stories about cervical cancer diagnoses and encouraged others to get screened.

On February 27, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, appearing on a podcast with millions of subscribers, falsely linked prenatal acetaminophen use to autism in children, echoing a similar false claim made by President Donald Trump’s during a September 2025 press conference. Kennedy also falsely claimed that prenatal aspirin use increases the risk of babies developing Reye’s syndrome, a rare condition that causes swelling in the liver and brain. However, when asked about Reye’s syndrome, Kennedy could not identify its causes. Social media users across platforms—including health care providers—shared a clip of Kennedy’s interview. Many clarified that Reye’s syndrome typically occurs after children or teens have the flu or chickenpox and take aspirin and that it is not linked to prenatal aspirin use. They also noted that while high-dose aspirin is not recommended during pregnancy, low-dose aspirin may be used under medical guidance to manage certain health conditions and to prevent or delay preeclampsia. Some commenters alleged that no aspirin use during pregnancy is safe and repeated Kennedy’s false claim that prenatal acetaminophen use causes autism.

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Recommendations for public health professionals

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 ongoing concern about birth control pills, messaging may stress that birth control pills are a safe and effective way to prevent pregnancy, reduce menstrual cramps, ease premenstrual symptoms, and make periods lighter, among other uses. Communicators may explain that while birth control pills may cause mild side effects in some people, they typically go away within two to three months. Messaging may emphasize that serious risks from combination birth control pills (containing both estrogen and progestin), like blood clots and stroke, are rare and that progestin-only pills don’t carry those risks. Communicators may also want to share types of hormonal and non-hormonal birth control and direct people to local health clinics and pharmacies where they can access prescription and over-the-counter birth control.

Conversations about cervical cancer provide an opportunity to educate people about screening guidelines. Messaging may explain that nearly all cases of cervical cancer are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted infection that can cause several other cancers. The CDC recommends that anyone with a cervix ages 21 to 29 receive a Pap smear—in which a health care provider takes samples of cervical cells using a soft brush—to screen for HPV and cervical cancer. If the Pap smear is normal, people in this age group can wait three years until their next test. People ages 30 to 65 should be screened for cervical cancer every three years or for HPV every five years. Encouraging people to talk to their health care provider about their best cervical cancer and HPV screening options is recommended. The HPV vaccine protects against the most common cancer-causing strains of the HPV virus. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the HPV vaccine for all adolescents starting between ages 9 and 12.

Concerns about medication during pregnancy persist following false and misleading information from public officials. Communicators may stress that experts have not found a causal relationship between acetaminophen and autism, for which there is no single known cause. Messaging may explain that the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists say it’s safe to take acetaminophen during pregnancy as needed after consulting with your doctor. However, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) and Aleve should only be taken during the second trimester and only for 48 hours or less at a time. High-dose aspirin is also not recommended during pregnancy because it may increase the risk of pregnancy loss and some fetal abnormalities, but pregnant people can safely take low-dose aspirin to manage preexisting blood clotting conditions, kidney disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure and to prevent or delay preeclampsia after consulting with a health care provider. Additional messaging may explain that SSRIs are safe during pregnancy and that avoiding or discontinuing SSRIs comes with risks. Communicators may encourage pregnant people to talk to their health care providers about any medications they take and discuss their best options.