Persistent Lies

About The Series

PERSISTENT LIES: Misinformation About Contraception is a three-part video series that unpacks the myths, misinformation, and political agendas surrounding contraception. TikTok and Instagram are full of videos telling young women the ways in which birth control is bad for them and even dangerous. None of this is true and, worse, it’s part of a concerted effort to undermine confidence in modern contraception in order to roll back rights and reinforce outdated gender norms.

Meet The Experts

o Ashley Jeanlus, MD, OBGYN/Complex Family Planning Practitioner

o Raegan McDonald-Mosley, MD, MPH, President, Power to Decide

o Jessica Mason Pieklo, Chief Content Officer, Rewire News Group

o Callie Simon, Executive Director, SIECUS Sex Ed for Social Change

o Amanda Jean Stevenson, PhD Associate Professor of Sociology, Director of Population Program, Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado Boulder

o Sophia Yen, MD, MPH, CEO & Co-Founder of Pandia Health

Part One: The Politics of The Pill

The Politics of the Pill explores how misinformation and political agendas have shaped the discourse around contraception. The video shows how the exaggerated claims about the health risks of hormonal birth control are not new but part of a long-standing backlash against women’s reproductive autonomy. It begins by discussing how legalization of the pill led to the expansion of women’s roles in education and the workforce and how conservative forces have been pushing back ever since. The experts connect today’s proliferation of misinformation to broader social and political movements, including pronatalism and white Christian nationalism. Ultimately, the episode underscores that opposition to birth control is less about health concerns and more about controlling who has children and limiting women’s freedom.

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Part Two: The Truth About Birth Control Myths

The Truth About Birth Control Myths dives into the specifics of myths and misinformation about contraception. Through interviews with three doctors who specialize in reproductive health, the episode tackles exaggerated claims about health risks, infertility, and acne as well as the bizarre suggestion that the pill changes who you are attracted to. The experts break down the evidence, highlight the benefits and safety of hormonal methods, and explain why finding the right method is personal. They also note how these myths stem from gaps in sex education and argue that the solution is giving people the facts they need to cut through fear and make informed choices.

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Part Three: The New Backlash Against Birth Control

The New Backlash Against Birth Control highlights how persistent lying can be used to limit access to care and accurate information. The video examines how cultural and political forces team up to make contraception seem dangerous or “wrong.” It goes on to explain how myths about birth control are meant to stigmatize not just the methods but the people who use them. Undermining faith in contraception is one step in pushing a pronatalist agenda that wants women to leave the workforce and focus on their families. As the experts explain, once the public believes that contraception is bad for women, it becomes easier for lawmakers to restrict access.

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