'nocebo Effect' May Shape Women’s Experience Of The Contraceptive Pill

2 months ago

Side effects knowledgeable erstwhile taking oral contraception whitethorn beryllium affected by women's expectations and beliefs astir nan pill, according to an exploratory study by psychologists.

Researchers astatine nan University of Sheffield identified a "nocebo effect" successful narration to nan contraceptive pill, wherever psychological factors specified arsenic antagonistic expectations aliases worry astir utilizing a medicine drives a beingness consequence successful nan assemblage erstwhile nan medicine is taken.

Nocebo responses to nan oral contraceptive pill are existent and tin see feelings of depression, worry and fatigue. The nocebo effect is nan "evil twin" to nan placebo effect, wherever group get a affirmative boost from taking a dummy tablet aliases pill.

In their study, nan Sheffield researchers item world studies which propose astir 2 successful 3 women extremity taking nan contraceptive pill wrong 2 years of starting it, pinch galore switching to replacement but little effective forms of contraception. In galore cases, broadside effects were cardinal to their determination to discontinue utilizing oral contraception.

Across England, nan shape is similar, pinch women choosing to extremity utilizing nan pill successful ample numbers. Figures from NHS Digital show nan number of prescriptions issued for oral contraceptives dropped from 7.2 cardinal successful 2012 to conscionable complete 6 cardinal a decade later.

Dr. Rebecca Webster, from nan University of Sheffield's School of Psychology, who supervised nan investigation study, said: "The contraceptive pill gets a batch of antagonistic attention, peculiarly connected societal media, and we were willing successful really these antagonistic views could beryllium influencing nan measurement women are experiencing oral contraception.

"The broadside effects are very real, but could immoderate of them person a psychological component? If they do, that intends we could create interventions to thief group woody pinch them."

The researchers recruited 275 women aged betwixt 18 and 45 to nan study. All had been taking nan pill astatine immoderate constituent complete nan erstwhile 18 months. They were asked to return portion successful an online survey.

They were besides asked to respond to questions astir immoderate broadside effects they were experiencing. In addition, they were asked questions designed to measure their cognition to medicines and medicine use.

Statistical study revealed 4 psychological factors that were associated pinch nan likelihood nan women knowledgeable antagonistic broadside effects. In bid of magnitude, nan psychological factors were:

A antagonistic anticipation from nan outset that nan medicine would beryllium harmful
Low assurance successful nan measurement medicines are developed
A belief that medicines are complete utilized and harmful
A belief that they are delicate to medicines

Expectations that a medicine will person a antagonistic effect from nan outset are apt to beryllium aforesaid fulfilling. Negative expectations tin beryllium heightened if group judge medicines are mostly harmful aliases overused aliases by antagonistic messaging successful nan media.

Nearly each female successful nan study (97 per cent) reported astatine slightest 1 broadside effect. Over nan 18 period study period, 149 women (54.2 per cent) continued pinch nan oral contraception. A full of 126 women (45.8 per cent) discontinued utilizing nan pill, pinch 42 of them switching to an replacement shape of contraception.

The nocebo effect has been recognised successful different wellness conditions but nan study astatine Sheffield is believed to beryllium nan first to analyse really nan nocebo effect whitethorn beryllium impacting connected women's acquisition of taking oral contraceptives.

It is important to admit really immoderate women's experiences of oral contraception are impacted by nan nocebo effect. With this information, women tin make much informed decisions astir their usage of oral contraception.

This is peculiarly truthful pinch younger women who whitethorn beryllium exposed to much antagonistic messaging astir usage of nan pill done greater usage of media platforms."

Lorna Reid, lead writer of nan study, University of Sheffield

The researchers opportunity a limitation of their study is that nan participants were predominantly young achromatic women. But they adhd that nan exploratory study paves nan measurement for early studies to analyse ways of improving women's acquisition of oral contraception.

The exploratory study is reported successful nan diary Perspectives connected Sexual and Reproductive Health: Exploring nan narration betwixt medicine related beliefs and Side-effect acquisition among achromatic oral contraceptive users successful nan UK.

Source:

Journal reference:

Reid, L., & Webster, R. K. (2025). Exploring nan Relationship Between Medicine Related Beliefs and Side‐Effect Experience Among White Oral Contraceptive Users successful nan UK. Perspectives connected Sexual and Reproductive Health. doi.org/10.1111/psrh.70012