Based on my extremely unscientific observations, it feels like there's a major online disinformation campaign happening to make women afraid of accessing reproductive healthcare.
There have always been myths and scare stories floating around the internet, but I've never before seen so many people absolutely terrified about two things - side effects of hormonal contraception, and pain from routine cervical screening.
I don't know where this disinformation is circulating, but it's really harmful
And in case anyone reading has come across any of this, and is worried:
Hormonal contraceptives often have side effects, and the side effects are underresearched. But for most people, they are minor, and they stop quickly if you stop taking the medication. Different types of HBC will affect your body differently, so if one doesn't work for you, it can be worth trying another.
Cervical screening is uncomfortable but not painful for the majority of people. If you're worried about the process, speak to the healthcare provider beforehand - they have lots of options to help, ranging from going slowly and explaining every step as you go along, to using smaller instruments, to offering pain relief.
And consent-wise, intimate exams are just like sex: you can say stop at any time, and they will stop, and you can try again in a different way on a different day.
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