Top in women’s health: Contraceptive use after pandemic; misinformation spreads on TikTok

Data from a nationally representative web survey of fertility in the U.S. revealed that condom use declined following the COVID-19 pandemic, while other contraceptive use patterns remained stable.

Researchers noted that fertility preferences among Hispanic women and women aged 41 years or older changed the most.

“The COVID-19 crisis and its unprecedented economic and social upheaval led to shifting pregnancy desires; early in the pandemic, one-third of women indicated that they wanted to delay or reduce their childbearing because of the pandemic,” William G. Axinn, MD, professor of sociology and research professor at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan, and colleagues wrote.

It was the top story in women’s health last week.

In another top story, researchers found that less than 50% of the top TikTok videos on conception featured only evidence-based pregnancy strategies. Regarding videos featuring links to products, 72.2% contained non-evidence-based information.

Read these and more top stories in women’s health below:

‘Shifting pregnancy desires’ altered some contraceptive use patterns after pandemic

Sexually active women in the U.S. made moderate changes to their contraceptive use due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to national survey estimates published in Contraception. Read more.

Managing high cholesterol during pregnancy ‘challenging,’ medications lack safety data

Most lipid-lowering medications lack safety data for pregnant and lactating women, complicating management of hyperlipidemia and hypertriglyceridemia, but data suggest statins can be used for those at high risk for cardiovascular events. Read more.

TikTok videos on common conception strategies often inaccurate, spread misinformation

More than half of the top videos on TikTok about conception strategies without treatment were not backed by science, with most created by nonprofessionals and content creators for profit, according to a research letter. Read more.

5 Questions with Hugh S. Taylor, MD

Healio spoke with Hugh S. Taylor, MD, the Anita O’Keeffe Young Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at Yale School of Medicine and chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Yale-New Haven Hospital, about his career as a physician-scientist, his passion for treating reproductive health conditions and his advice for medical students today. Read more.

Older age at natural menopause may increase asthma risk

Later age at natural menopause may be a risk factor for asthma, potentially due to prolonged estrogen exposure, data from a longitudinal study show. Read more.