Bridging the knowledge gap: a feminist lens on the post-birth control syndrome and media narratives
BackgroundResearch regarding the period after the discontinuation of oral contraceptives remains largely confined to the return of fertility and menstruation, reflecting a narrow and medicalizing approach to sexual and reproductive health. Still, beyond this biomedical discourse, there is a growing...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Global Women's Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2025.1556810/full |
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| author | Jana Niemann Amand Führer |
| author_facet | Jana Niemann Amand Führer |
| author_sort | Jana Niemann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundResearch regarding the period after the discontinuation of oral contraceptives remains largely confined to the return of fertility and menstruation, reflecting a narrow and medicalizing approach to sexual and reproductive health. Still, beyond this biomedical discourse, there is a growing debate concerning the experiences of those who discontinue oral contraception. This debate gravitates around the term “post-birth control syndrome” and mostly takes place in various online communities.AimIn this perspective, we aim to explore this discourse on German and English language (social) media and highlight how the absence of reliable studies creates a void that is actively filled by commercial agendas, unchecked online information, and personal accounts.ArgumentInstead of merely turning to the internet because of insufficient research, it is the commercial exploitation of this gap that intensifies certain narratives, risking spreading misinformation and disempowering former pill users by depriving them of scientific perspectives on their health. We emphasize the necessity of addressing this gap through feminist research that prioritizes biopsychosocial well-being, including its structural dimensions, rather than focusing solely on reproductive outcomes. Bridging this knowledge gap requires classical clinical and socioepidemiological research into post-pill physiological mechanisms and contexts, complemented by qualitative studies capturing user experiences.ConclusionBy shifting contraceptive health research towards comprehensive, user-centered perspectives, feminist science can empower individuals to make informed decisions and promote contraceptive autonomy within medical and public health frameworks. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-81bdbf11722a4e63ae28a9ce14fbb1c3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-5059 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Global Women's Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-81bdbf11722a4e63ae28a9ce14fbb1c32025-08-20T03:50:06ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Global Women's Health2673-50592025-07-01610.3389/fgwh.2025.15568101556810Bridging the knowledge gap: a feminist lens on the post-birth control syndrome and media narrativesJana Niemann0Amand Führer1Institute of Medical Sociology, Interdisciplinary Center of Health Sciences, Medical Faculty, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, GermanyInstitute for Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics and Informatics, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, GermanyBackgroundResearch regarding the period after the discontinuation of oral contraceptives remains largely confined to the return of fertility and menstruation, reflecting a narrow and medicalizing approach to sexual and reproductive health. Still, beyond this biomedical discourse, there is a growing debate concerning the experiences of those who discontinue oral contraception. This debate gravitates around the term “post-birth control syndrome” and mostly takes place in various online communities.AimIn this perspective, we aim to explore this discourse on German and English language (social) media and highlight how the absence of reliable studies creates a void that is actively filled by commercial agendas, unchecked online information, and personal accounts.ArgumentInstead of merely turning to the internet because of insufficient research, it is the commercial exploitation of this gap that intensifies certain narratives, risking spreading misinformation and disempowering former pill users by depriving them of scientific perspectives on their health. We emphasize the necessity of addressing this gap through feminist research that prioritizes biopsychosocial well-being, including its structural dimensions, rather than focusing solely on reproductive outcomes. Bridging this knowledge gap requires classical clinical and socioepidemiological research into post-pill physiological mechanisms and contexts, complemented by qualitative studies capturing user experiences.ConclusionBy shifting contraceptive health research towards comprehensive, user-centered perspectives, feminist science can empower individuals to make informed decisions and promote contraceptive autonomy within medical and public health frameworks.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2025.1556810/fullpost-birth control syndromeoral contraceptionmedicalizationdiscontinuationcontraceptive pillonline communities |
| spellingShingle | Jana Niemann Amand Führer Bridging the knowledge gap: a feminist lens on the post-birth control syndrome and media narratives Frontiers in Global Women's Health post-birth control syndrome oral contraception medicalization discontinuation contraceptive pill online communities |
| title | Bridging the knowledge gap: a feminist lens on the post-birth control syndrome and media narratives |
| title_full | Bridging the knowledge gap: a feminist lens on the post-birth control syndrome and media narratives |
| title_fullStr | Bridging the knowledge gap: a feminist lens on the post-birth control syndrome and media narratives |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bridging the knowledge gap: a feminist lens on the post-birth control syndrome and media narratives |
| title_short | Bridging the knowledge gap: a feminist lens on the post-birth control syndrome and media narratives |
| title_sort | bridging the knowledge gap a feminist lens on the post birth control syndrome and media narratives |
| topic | post-birth control syndrome oral contraception medicalization discontinuation contraceptive pill online communities |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2025.1556810/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jananiemann bridgingtheknowledgegapafeministlensonthepostbirthcontrolsyndromeandmedianarratives AT amandfuhrer bridgingtheknowledgegapafeministlensonthepostbirthcontrolsyndromeandmedianarratives |