Social media misinformation about sexual and reproductive health didn’t slow down heading into 2026. Each week, Bedsider Providers+ tracks three viral videos and publishes mis/disinformation guides to help you address these narratives when they surface in the exam room. We’re sharing three of the persistent and clinically significant trends from 2026 (so far).
Depo-Provera and brain tumors: attorneys meet influencers
Following a 2024 study linking depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) use with a small increased risk of meningioma, 2026 has seen a wave of content amplifying this concern driven not just by wellness influencers, but by legal influencers actively recruiting for class-action lawsuits. In one widely shared example, a commentator discusses the meningioma data in an alarmist framing that omits key context: meningiomas are rare, the absolute risk increase is small, and DMPA remains a safe and effective contraceptive with meaningful benefits for many patients. Comments on these videos, including one with thousands of likes asking “Why are they still prescribing it when it’s causing meningioma?” signal that patients may arrive at visits anxious and looking for grounded, specific conversations about the risks of this rare complication.
Made-up abortion statistics and fake diagnoses
A TikTok video that continues to circulate claims that 81% of people who have had an abortion will experience depression and also references “post-abortion stress syndrome (PASS),” a term not recognized as a valid diagnosis by leading medical or psychiatric organizations. The statistic itself is not supported by credible evidence. While individuals may experience a range of emotions after an abortion, research consistently shows that abortion is not associated with increased rates of long-term mental health disorders. When this comes up in the exam room, a useful frame is what the evidence does show: distress after abortion is more strongly linked to pre-existing mental health conditions, stigma, and lack of social support, not abortion itself. Claims like this reinforce stigma and misrepresent what the evidence actually shows about abortion and mental health.
Scrubs as credibility: Emergency contraception infertility claims on #NurseTok
With over 500,000 views, a video on #NurseTok falsely claimed that “excess intake” or “abuse” of levonorgestrel emergency contraception leads to “chronic hormonal problems and even infertility.” The creator used hashtags like #studentnurse and #nursetok, lending the content an air of clinical authority that makes the misinformation harder for patients to question. Current evidence does not support these claims. Levonorgestrel EC is safe, including with repeated use, and has not been shown to cause infertility or long-term hormonal dysfunction. The perceived-authority framing is what makes this trend especially significant: patients who encounter misinformation from what appears to be a medical source are more likely to internalize it and less likely to raise it with their provider.
Across all three trends, a common thread: perceived authority amplifies harm. Whether it’s a legal commentator, a fabricated statistic, or someone in scrubs, the framing shapes how patients receive and internalize misinformation claims and why you can play an important role in responding to these trends when they emerge in patient discussions.
Curious what a full misinformation guide looks like? The Weight Gain and Birth Control guide is free to access — including the viral videos, clinical context, and talking points.
Want to compare these trends to our 2025 recap? Check our end-of-year review from last year.