In 2023, The Pill has become the villain. And we need to have a conversation about it.

"Welcome to the side of TikTok that has quit The Pill, is dairy- and gluten-free, gets up at 5.30am, struggles with motivation, practices self-love and is healing their hormonal acne naturally," writes one TikTok creator, her words set over a video of a cascading waterfall.

It's just one of thousands of #gettingoffbirthcontrol videos, touting the benefits of coming off the contraceptive. These videos have had over 7 million views, with women sharing everything from their Pill-free journey, while essentially encouraging others to do the same.

There's @angelinanicollle, a content creator who regularly shares updates of her life post-Pill. In one, she writes: "When you thought you were ugly, hated yourself, had zero sex drive and felt like a robot everyday but you realized it was just because you were on birth control."

Then, within the 3,000-plus comments in Period Coach Naam's viral video, "What your doctor (probably) didn't tell you about The Pill", the Certified Period and Menstrual Cycle Coach writes: "Doctors recommend The Pill for different reasons, often it’s money, sometimes because they don’t have time to talk to you about all options." 

@balancedft.skye Welcome, welcome, welcome! ✨ #comingoffthepill #welcometothissideoftiktok #healthandwellness #wellnessinstagram ♬ original sound - Donna Rosalene Dixon

And while there are some very real side effects of taking The Pill, it seems like more and more people are being fed the belief that it is inherently dangerous — no matter why you're taking it.

As one woman pointed out on Coach Naam's video: "Everyone is talking about how bad The Pill is and recommends to stop using it... but some women (like me) need to be on The Pill for their health." 

While on the 5am waterfall video, one woman writes: "Me and my endo don’t belong here." And another says, "I have to stay on The Pill otherwise my life is torture."

Watch: Did you know there are different types of birth control pills? Here's some advice on how to find which one is right for you. Post continues below.

Welcome to the world of 'Pill shaming', where women feel like they have to justify their choice of contraception.

As 30-year-old Eniko tells us: "I've been on The Pill since I was 16 (I'm now 30, so that's a solid 14 years) and I actually think it's served me really well as a contraceptive and it's suited my life really well to use it.

"Of course, there are parts about it that frustrate me pretty wildly (cost and the fact that whenever I try to go off it I get horrific acne) but overall I don't mind life on it.

"I do get really frustrated with the commentary that it's 'unnatural' to be on The Pill and the implication that women who are on it are somehow defective or living as 'unnatural' women. It's what's worked for me and at this point in my life, I'm unwilling to take the risk to alter my contraception."

So, why is there so much stigma around The Pill? And where does it leave us?

The negative side effects of taking The Pill

As anyone who has taken The Pill before will know, it isn't just something that affects your ovaries — it's so much more. 

Because while there are women who experience little to no negative side effects taking The Pill, there are also many more who report things like a serious loss of libido, depression, anxiety and even suicidal thoughts.

Associate Professor Caroline Gurvich, Clinical Neuropsychologist and Deputy Director of Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre tells Mamamia, there's a crucial need to learn more about which women are vulnerable to the adverse mood effects. 

"Research suggests somewhere between 32 percent and 60 percent of women discontinue oral contraceptive use within six months for a variety of reasons — but one of those reasons is mood changes," she says.

As 31-year-old Gemma tells us, she's been on The Pill for 13 years and has never noticed any side effects. However, her 24-year-old sister Melinda went off it after a year of experiencing the effects on her mental health.

Melinda says, "I tried four different versions of The Pill across a year and a bit, and my god, it was chaotic. I was extremely moody and on edge. I was constantly eating and my head always felt a mess, to the point my boyfriend was concerned for my health."

"It also triggered my anxiety and depression. I already had this but The Pill just amplified it and I ended up needing to see a doctor. Never again."

With this in mind, it's incredibly important to make it clear that there are some very real and dangerous side effects of The Pill that are completely warranted — particularly when it comes to mental health.

In a recent article with Mamamia, professor and author of This Is Your Brain On Birth Control, Sarah Hill told us that oral contraceptives have been proven to alter women’s thinking, emotions and behaviour.

"There has been a growing body of research that suggests that women who are on hormonal contraception are at greater risk of developing depression and anxiety than women who are not," said Professor Hill. 

"Research suggests that these differences stem from differences in hormonal and neurotransmitter activity in the brains of hormonal contraception."  

In Australia, Jayashri Kulkarni, a Professor of Psychiatry at Monash University, led research into the effects of oral contraception on mood and anxiety. Her study found that women taking the oral contraceptive pill were more likely to be depressed than non-Pill users. 

It was discovered that women taking a Pill with low amounts of oestrogen had more depression than those taking higher oestrogen dose Pills. It was also found that the progesterone-only contraceptives were the most depressive of all the contraceptives. 

She tells Mamamia: "While the data shows a link between certain types of Pill (e.g. progesterone-only Pills, subcutaneous and intra-uterine devices – are associated with higher levels of depression), there is still confusion because many women using hormone contraception do NOT experience depression. Their experience throws doubt on the experience of those who do."

Professor Kulkarni also says that often the type of depression experienced on The Pill is not always the easily recognised major depressive disorder with characterised, described symptoms. "I also think there is a reluctance to believe that gonadal hormones impact mental health — although there is ample neuroscientific evidence for this," she adds.

According to Professor Hill, when it comes to The Pill's impact on the brain, more research and medical intervention is the only way forward.

Why 'Pill shaming' is dangerous

While it's important to validate people's experiences surrounding these side effects (as we said before, it's different for everyone), the rise of the #gettingoffbirthcontrol movement on TikTok essentially promotes fear and shame around taking The Pill.

The social platform is currently swarming with negative content around the oral contraceptive, pushing the idea of holistic, 'hormone-free' and 'natural' remedies — often without any scientific backing. 

The danger in these types of 'Pill shaming' videos is that they essentially have the power to influence and leverage a massive following of people — particularly those suffering from very real health conditions like PCOS and endometriosis.

And as anyone with one of these conditions knows, you often don't have a choice when it comes to effective long-term treatments. For many, The Pill offers relief and control.

This could also be for clear skin. The management of debilitating pain. A better quality of life.

And this is where the lines get blurred. 

Because in this culture of pill-mongering on social media platforms like TikTok, there's a presumption that all people choose to be on The Pill, when for some, taking the pill is not a choice at all. It's essential.

@anniedeliversmd Taking the pill continuously skipping the placebo week can help prevent ovarian cysts in those who are prone to develop them. Talk to your #obgyn #doctor about it. #women #womenshealth #momsoftiktok #birthcontrol #ovariancysts #fyp ♬ what happened in 2022 - Hendrix Beckitt

One of the most common myths getting around on TikTok right now? That The Pill causes infertility. 

There are numerous videos discussing that oral contraception is bad for your fertility, making it harder to get pregnant, touting the importance of "taking a break" from the pill.

According to experts, this isn't necessarily true.

In a Mamamia article, Sydney gynaecologist Dr Nicole Stamatopoulos confirmed there’s no evidence that any contraceptive currently on the market causes infertility. 

"The Pill has no effect on how long it will take to fall pregnant. It is more the reasons why women went on The Pill and the age they stop The Pill that will affect how long it will take to get pregnant. There is no such thing as taking The Pill for 'too long'," she assured.

"The Pill should not affect fertility if your cycles were regular before you went on it."

"If you had regular periods before you went on The Pill, your cycle should regulate, and ovulation should recommence within a month or two. The problem is that many women go on The Pill to regulate their periods, so they have a regular monthly period. This regularity will cease with these women once they stop The Pill. That is why fertility becomes an issue for them."

"For women who cease The Pill in their late 30s to start conceiving, their fertility is already on the decline and it is not The Pill that is necessarily the issue but the age-related ovarian reserve affecting fertility."

Speaking with Mamamia, President of the National Association of Specialist Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (NASOG) Associate Professor Gino Pecoraro adds, "The idea of needing a 'break' or drug holiday from the combined contraceptive Pill is a very old-fashioned idea that was popular in the '60s and '70s."

"The only reason to stop taking The Pill is if the pregnancy is desired or you are having an unwanted side effect from The Pill or any of its constituents."

When you go off of The Pill, experts say the effects should stop immediately and the hormones will usually be out of your system within a few days.  

The Pill is not one-size-fits-all

The bottom line? Everyone is different. And what might work for someone, might not work for you.

@natalieroseuk Coming off the pill was so difficult but ive finally found a method that is kind to your hormones while still building strength & getting you snatched ✨💗. Join us #thepill #hormoneimbalance #weightloss #relatable ♬ som original - SUZY SANTOS

We now have access to more options than ever when it comes to contraception. So if you're looking for birth control options and The Pill isn't for you, that's okay. 

Being concerned about the side effects of the medication you're putting in your body — especially when you're doing it on the daily — isn't a bad thing. 

But at the same time, it's also important to have a conversation with a medical professional to talk through what's right for you. Because TikTok can be a murky place.

Above all, if The Pill is an effective treatment for you and it works — you do you.

What do you think about the culture of 'pill shaming'? Where do you stand? We want to hear. Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Feature image: Getty, TikTok (@balancedft.skye, thecyclicalcoach), Mamamia.