‘Coming off the pill was the best decision I ever made’

With over 20 millions views on TikTok, there’s a trend that many women can’t get enough of. But a doctor has revealed debunked common misconceptions.

With over 20 million views on TikTok, the #gettingoffbirthcontrol trend has captured the attention of young women who are being encouraged to ditch the pill and join the #backtonature movement, a lifestyle that prioritises natural choices when it comes to nutrition and other health issues, including contraception.

One Australian woman, Sydney online fitness and nutrition coach, Jess Morgan, 29, who came off the pill 18 months ago, says TikTok influenced her decision to stop taking the medication.

“A couple of years ago when we were in the second wave of Covid-19 lockdowns, I really embraced getting on TikTok and saw lots of creators that were naturopaths and holistic women’s health coaches talking about the pill, and a lot more in-depth side effects than what we are all taught growing up,” she said.

“When you’re younger you don’t really think about the side effects in a serious way, whereas I think being that little bit older and caring much more about what I put in my body I was more ready to listen! TikTok kind of sparked my attention to it.”

Jess Morgan began considering going off the pill after watching videos on TikTok. Picture: Supplied

The TikTok videos included advice from certified naturopaths, holistic nutritionists and the personal accounts of other women. Ms Morgan also researched the process further on her own and sought advice from her GP, ultimately deciding to transition off the contraceptive pill.

“I had heard lots of stories about infertility and irregular cycles, and that it can also take a really long time in some cases for your body to regulate itself after being on the pill for so long,” she said.

“I was turning 28 and if I were to attempt to have children in say the next five years, I would want my body in its most optimal state and ready to function.

“I also just thought there has to be a better way of me doing this than shoving my body full of synthetic hormones! I’d been on the pill for 15 years straight without a break – I had no idea how my body functioned on its own.”

The contraceptive pill is taken by hundreds of thousands of Aussie women.

As more and more women consider coming off the pill, with searches for ‘side effects of contraceptive pills on menstrual cycle’ jumping over 250 per cent on Google, some health practitioners, including Dr Kara McElligott (OB/GYN, MD, MPH) at Mira are urging women to weigh up both the positives and negatives and to seek advice from their GPs before making a decision.

“Those who wish to stop or change their hormonal birth control should consider all the information about what hormones do and both the benefits and downsides of each decision. Your health provider’s role is to provide guidance and support when making health choices,” Dr McElligott said.

In addition, Dr Kirsty Wallace-Hor, specialist GP from Kin Fertility told news.com.au that seeking medical advice from social media can not only result in obtaining inaccurate information but can have dangerous consequences.

“Ultimately, health decisions based on the experience or advice of social media personalities may not be fully informed, and may lead to negative health consequences, such as unwanted pregnancy, or poorly controlled symptoms of medical conditions like endometriosis or polycystic ovarian syndrome,” she said.

Dr Kirsty Wallace-Hor has debunked the TikTok myth that the contraceptive pill makes you infertile. Picture: Supplied

Another misconception around the pill and something, Dr Wallace-Hor says is important to clear up is the idea that women need a break from it.

“There is no medical need to have a ‘break’ from the pill. Someone’s hormones will go back to what’s normal for them within a few months of stopping the pill,” she said.

“The pill has been around long enough now that we know it is safe for many people to take in the long term. In fact, some of the benefits of the pill, such as reducing the risk of uterine cancer, are increased the longer the pill is taken,” she said.

Dr Wallace-Hor also says that taking the pill for an extended time does not impact fertility.

“Taking the pill for long periods also does not impact negatively on fertility. If a woman stops the pill later in her reproductive life and has difficulty falling pregnant, it isn’t because she has used the pill. It’s because our fertility naturally declines as we get older.”

Since beginning her journey of coming off the contraceptive pill 18 months ago, Ms Morgan has shared her journey via her TikTok account, the videos showcasing her experience becoming hugely popular on the platform, something Ms Morgan attributes to the movement and an often negative representation of women’s health issues.

“I wanted to share my journey because I know a lot of women are in the same boat of indecision whether they should or shouldn’t come off and I just wanted to document the very real and raw side of my journey – but also show it in a positive light,” she said.

“It turns out millions of women wanted to hear about it, which just goes to show how many of us are affected. I just don’t want women to be in the dark about women’s issues anymore.”

Shona Hendley is a freelance writer.

Originally published as ‘Coming off the pill was the best decision I ever made’