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Dangerous Alternative Birth Control Methods
Modern social media platform users on TikTok and Twitter, have been promoting harmful and ineffective alternative birth control methods in lieu of fears of the removal of common contraceptives and birth control methods post Roe v. Wade.
https://www.tiktok.com/@reynsoulapthecary/video/7115855356051393835
The initial infographic and TikTok by @reynsoulapthecary portray that various herbs and vegetables such as Papaya, Neem, Asafoetida, Figs, Smartweed, Wild Yams, Pennyroyal, and Black Cohosh can be used as an effective means of birth control comparatively to commonly used birth control methods.
Other methods such as using basal body temperatures as a physical indicator of ovulation has also been largely criticized for being medically inconsistent.
Various reputable physicians and medical researchers have been attempting to dispute such information in hopes of preventing needless potential hospital visits as a result of harmful birth control misinformation. Dr. Nathaniel DeNicola, a board-certified OB-GYN and assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at The George Washington University, stated in an interview with Buzzfeed that these methods that are shown in the infographic are “hardly even worth diving into it because it’s so unsupported by science, but some of them are actually worth looking at because they can be dangerous.”
Let’s dive into some of the most promoted falsely claimed natural birth control remedies.
Basal Body Temperature
In a recent video that amassed over a million likes on TikTok, basal body temperature was promoted as an effective #naturalbirthcontrol method. The TikTok creator @Greenybeany420, stated that the use of a Daisy thermometer allowed her to prevent unwanted pregnancies through daily usage.
@greenybeany420
According to a journal study by Obstetrics and Gynecology comparing the effectiveness of using basal body temperatures and ultrasound to report ovulation, only eleven percent of women were recorded to have an increase of basal body temperature after one day of ovulation. Only after two or more days did the remaining 89 percent of women record a noticeable basal body temperature increase.
Logistically speaking, using basal body temperatures to indicate ovulation may lead to potentially under or overshooting your cycle. Thus, you may miss the window that you are more likely to become pregnant.
Neem Leaf
@ladykreshawn Hey 👋🏾 friends! Lol. “Scuse’ my hair” it also helps to keep ya waist snatched. Don’t judge @😂L #fyp #healthyliving #LIKEABOMBSHELL #herbalmedicine #herbs #tiktokhacks #didyouknow #birthcontrol
Neem leaf oil is commonly used as a mosquito repellant and treatment for vaginal infections. However, in an uncontrolled clinical trial conducted by the National Library of Medicine with two hundred and twenty five women, Neem leaf oil when applied in one milliliter dose vaginally, five minutes prior to having sex, does show contractive effects.
While the report does show that an inter-vaginal dosage of Neem leaf oil has contraceptive effects, oral ingestion which was shown by @ladykrshawn’s TikTok has been directly stated by the National Library of Medicine to be toxic following excessive dosages.
According to the article, a sixty year old man was admitted into a hospital for psychotic symptoms after consuming 60ml of oleum azadirachtin, the scientific name for Neem oil. While the specific reason for his consumption of Neem oil was not presented, improperly using Neem oil presents dangerous potential effects to the user.
Pennyroyal Oil
In a recently deleted TikTok that gained thousands of views, presented the use of Pennyroyal oil as a natural substitute for an abortion pill. @madisonbazaar, the creator of the TikTok, sarcastically stated “Definitely NOT pennyroyal or mugwort if you want to maintain a pregnancy,” implying that Pennyroyal is a legitimate method that can be used for abortion.
However, this claim is far from the truth.
In a Twitter post by Dr. Josh Trebach, a Clinical Instructor for Emergency Medicine at NYU, condemned the use of Pennyroyal because of its potential to cause liver failure, seizure, and death when improperly used.
An article by WebMD supports Dr. Trebach’s initial claim, stating that “it can cause serious liver and kidney damage, as well as nervous system damage” when ingested. Furthermore, Pennyroyal oil was still stated to be “likely unsafe” even when applied topically to the skin.
Common Vegetables and Herbs: Papaya, Wild Yams, Asafoetida, and Figs
Research regarding the effectiveness of using papaya as a proper means of birth control has shown to be extremely conflicting. Articles from Femstella and APNews strongly discourage the use of Papaya as a proper birth control method as both News sources similarly state that its effectiveness is misrepresented. Other articles, such as the National Library of Medicine, state that “extract of Carica papaya seeds caused anti-fertility, anti-implantation, by a reduction in progesterone level, disruption of oestrus pattern and histological alteration of utero-ovarian tissue.”
The use of wild yams as a birth control in particular has been repeatedly misinformed. While the root of wild yams contains a chemical called diosgenin that can be chemically converted in progesterone, a chemical that is commonly used in birth control pills, an article by Mount Sinai hospital stated that there is no evidence that supports the effectiveness of wild yams as legitimate method of birth control. This is because the human body “cannot change diosgenin into progesterone” by itself, it can only be chemically changed in a lab.
Asafoetida, otherwise known as Queen Anne’s Lace or Wild Carrots is a plant that is usually ingested in powder form. Historically, a crushed version of Asafoetida was used as a morning after type pill in India and the Appalachia, according to The Washington Post. However, there is currently very little large-scale research regarding the plant’s effectiveness as a birth control in humans. One minor study conducted by Robin Rose Bennett and Mischa Schuler, showed that Asafoetida had roughly a ninety percent effectiveness as a birth control agent. However, this study only used a sample size of thirty women, as well as illustrating major consistency issues regarding the variables used, such as the inconsistent usage of the Asafoetida and usage of other birth control substances.
According to the National Library of Medicine, Asafoetida harbors “several activities, such as antioxidant, antiviral, antifungal, cancer chemopreventive, antidiabetic, antispasmodic, hypotensive and molluscicidal.” However, there was no information regarding its effective use as a contraceptive of any kind.
Similarly to Asafoetida, the use of figs as a form of birth control has very little representation by large scale studies; however, various news sources have conflicting information regarding its effectiveness. According to Prystin Care, Baby Destination, and Medindia, dried figs can be used after having unprotected sex, but there is no other information provided as an explanation for its effectiveness. Other news sources such as NewsHub, APNews, Cosmopolitan, and Mashable, denounce the usage of dried figs as a form of effective birth control as there is no legitimate research supporting such claims.
Smartweed
Smartweed is an herb proposed to contain anti-implementation properties when consumed after fertilizing intercourse, according to a study by the International Journal of Current Pharmaceutical Review and Research. While historically the herb has been used as a contraceptive, users should use the herb with caution as it’s effectiveness is not always guaranteed, according to the same study .
Smartweed has also been stated to be used for diarrhea and as a blood clotting agent, but according to an article by WebMd, “there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.”
Black Cohosh
Black Cohosh is a perennial plant and a member of the buttercup family that grows in North America. Despite its proposed birth control properties, there is currently no scientific information supporting its effectiveness as a contraceptive. According to an article by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Black Cohosh is currently promoted as a dietary supplement for hot flashes as well as helping relieve menopausal symptoms. However, just like Smartweed, there is little evidence that supports the effectiveness of these medicinal properties as well.
Concluding Thoughts
Many of these misinformed alternative birth control methods are presented by influencers that command large social media audiences. While the actual intention behind these influencer’s cannot be exactly known, Dr. Nathaniel DeNicola, the interviewed OB-GYN by Buzzfeed, states that “There is a lot of misinformation from groups that have agendas that try to advance that agenda through almost like seedy ignorance.” Everyone, especially women, should be cautious when navigating any health-related sources in order to further prevent the spread of misinformation.
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