Contraception, Health | Sales of contraceptives are falling: – Afraid of the consequences

(Nettavisen): The gynecologist at Siri Kløkstad, tells Nettavisen that sales of contraceptives are now falling, while sales of emergency contraception have increased, according to figures from the Pharmacy Association.

– I suspect that this has a connection with the fear of hormones, especially with regard to mental health, says Kløkstad to Nettavisen.

It can be difficult to know what is best for each individual, and whether you should use contraception or not.

Kløkstad believes that social media, especially TikTok, has contributed to the fact that many young people are afraid of the side effects and therefore choose not to use contraceptives.

– It is important to talk about the protective effects as well, Kløkstad tells Nettavisen.

Fewer women use birth control pills

In 2022, almost 10 million fewer daily doses of birth control pills and other hormonal contraception were sold than in 2019.

This is shown by figures P4 has received from the Pharmacy Association.

– In 2019, around 356,000 women used birth control pills, but in 2022 the number had been reduced by almost 10 per cent. There is something worrying. We know that these are medicines that are safe to use, says specialist director of the Apotekforeningen, Hanne Andresen, about the development.

Social media scares

– It is quite clear that social media influences people to quit. I think that’s stupid.

There are countless videos on TikTok where people talk about how happy they are to be off birth control.

Among other things, there are several people who want to find out what they themselves are like without being affected by the hormones.

– The pandemic helped to increase attention to mental health among young people, and that is good, says Kløkstad to Nettavisen.

She adds that although this is good, it also contributes to young people choosing to listen to the experiences of individuals rather than the knowledge that experts have.

Can give better life

– Communicating about side effects is difficult. We have to say enough to make them feel safe, but also not scare them, Kløkstad tells Nettavisen.

She believes that this is something health personnel need to work on more.

– We see young people who are afraid of the consequences. They could have a better life if they had the right birth control for them. It helps with things other than pregnancy too, Kløkstad tells Nettavisen.

Among other things, contraceptives can protect against ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, aches and pains in connection with menstruation, and they can also help against acne.

Choose price or side effects?

When you have to find which contraceptive that suits you best, Sex and society believes that you should choose based on which characteristics you think are important. The choice can be made based on safety, price, duration and side effects.

And should do in consultation with a doctor, midwife or health nurse.

– It is important to take your preferences into account when choosing a contraceptive method, whether it is safety, price, risk factors such as avoiding combination preparations with oestrogen, or the importance of avoiding or having regular bleeding, Kløkstad tells Nettavisen.

She adds that one often has to try one’s way.

Sex and society goes more in-depth on the various choices and contraceptives. In addition, they have a test together with NRK, where you can find out which contraceptive is the best.

We have these contraceptives in Norway:

• Birth control pill
• P-syringe
• Mini pill
• Birth control patch
• P ring
• P rod
• Hormonal IUD
• Copper spiral
• Condom

According to Sex and society, less than one in 100 becomes pregnant a year when using the P-rod, Hormonspiral and Kobberspiral, while four to seven in 100 become pregnant a year when using the other contraceptives on the list.

If you have a blood clot in your close family, or have had it yourself, there are some contraceptives you should not use, as it can increase the risk.

It is also important to be aware that the effect of certain drugs can be changed when using contraception.

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Criticizing free condoms

Kornelia Minsaas, SoMe advisor and speaker, reacted earlier this year to how bad she thinks free condoms in Norway are.

“The Directorate of Health is failing completely. There are better condoms than the sandpaper Ingvild Kjerkol hands out.” sounded her reader’s post on 8 March this year.

This winter, among other things, the health authorities sounded the alarm about the large increase in gonorrhea, while recent abortion figures for 2023 show an increase of 6.7 per cent, compared to the previous year.

The reason, Minsaas believes, is that young people do not like or want to use condoms.

The health authorities respond to this by saying that they distribute between eight and nine million condoms each year, and that they receive less than 10 complaints a year.

– It is important to us that those who use free condoms have a high level of trust in us and the condoms. There were things in that post that we want to address in order to maintain trust, says Arild Johan Myrberg, senior adviser at the department for child and youth health at the Directorate of Health.