The growing interest in clean and natural lifestyles should be accompanied by greater scrutiny of hormonal contraception and its potential effects on women’s health, the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) has argued.
In the latest instalment of the pro-life organisation’s ‘Viewpoint series,’ titled ‘The Wellness Blindspot,’ presenter Delphine Chui questioned whether hormonal contraception was receiving enough scrutiny amid growing interest in women’s health and wellness.
Drawing a comparison with concerns about potentially harmful substances in consumer products, Ms Chui argued that public interest in chemicals used in clothing, cosmetics and household goods should be matched by discussion about medicines that affect the body’s hormonal systems.
“Is it any wonder we're facing a mental health crisis when study after study points to the impact of environmental toxins, while research also raises real concerns about the effects of hormonal contraception on some women's mental health?” she remarked.
Peter Kearney, SPUC’s communications manager, likewise commented: “In an age where the food we eat and the clothes we wear are scrutinised, so as to make sure both are allegedly good for us and the planet, it seems odd that this same level of scrutiny isn't applied to something as prevalent as hormonal contraception.”
Ms Chui said the expansion of the wellness industry had encouraged women to become more “more aware of the impact certain chemicals and toxins have on our health,” pointing to growing interest in organic food, natural fabrics and “clean” skincare.
While welcoming greater consumer awareness, she argued that the same approach should extend to hormonal contraception.
“The wellness movement has always been built upon the idea of empowerment through knowledge, as well as taking personal responsibility for our own well-being,” she said. “But are we applying the same level of care and scrutiny to what we put inside our bodies as we are to what we put on our skin?”
She continued: “For many women, synthetic hormones become something we take automatically month after month, year after year, without ever really being told about the potential impact on our body and mind. And we deserve to have access to all the information so we can make choices that are right for our own bodies.”
Ms Chui explained that hormonal contraception works through hormones such as synthetic forms of oestrogen and progestogen to prevent pregnancy. Depending on the method, they can prevent ovulation, alter cervical mucus or affect the lining of the womb.
She drew particular attention to the contraceptive injection medroxyprogesterone acetate, commonly known by the brand name Depo-Provera, and research examining a link between the long-term use of the drug and meningioma, a type of tumour that develops in the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
She said some studies suggested that using the contraceptive for more than a year could substantially increase the risk “by as much as 500%”.
Despite these concerns, Ms Chui said the contraceptive is still prescribed approximately 60,000 times a month in England, citing NHS data.
Ms Chui also pointed to research examining possible links between hormonal contraception and mental health, citing a 2016 Danish study that followed more than a million women and found an association between the use of hormonal contraception and depression. According to the study, the likelihood of receiving an antidepressant prescription over the next year was 34% higher among women taking hormonal contraceptives containing synthetic progestin and rose to around 40% for those using hormonal IUDs.
Concerns about side effects have also entered wider public discussion. Ms Chui highlighted Channel 4 documentary ‘Davina McCall’s Pill Revolution,’ which examined women’s experiences of contraception and cited a survey of more than 4,000 women in which over three quarters (77%) said they had experienced side effects like depression, headaches and decreased libido. Around one in three reported discontinuing the pill as a result, while 57% said they were worried about how it might affect their mental wellbeing.
She added: “For many women, this isn’t something that lasts a few months. It can be a journey spanning years, sometimes even decades.”
Ms Chui said accounts shared by women on social media had further fuelled discussion around experiences including mood changes, anxiety, depression, weight gain and changes in libido.
She emphasised: “These are conversations that deserve to be taken seriously, not dismissed.”
She called for greater interest in fertility awareness and women’s natural menstrual cycles as part of a broader approach to health and well-being.
She concluded: “There’s real value in giving our bodies a chance to reset and to understand what our natural monthly cycle is actually telling us. Though for many, that process isn't quick. It can take months or sometimes years for hormones and cycles to settle again.
“If we're serious about a truly holistic approach to wellness, then maybe it's time we rediscover fertility awareness and better understand the incredible science of the female body.
“Because true wellness isn't just about looking healthy on the outside, it's about caring for ourselves as a whole person, our bodies, our hormones, our minds, and our long-term health.
“The future of women’s wellness isn't found in another pill, it’s found in understanding our cycle, embracing our period as a sign of health rather than a problem to suppress, and learning to work with our bodies instead of against them.”
