According to posts on TikTok, hormonal birth control can cause a nearly unlimited list of ailments: Depression, irreversible infertility, acne, destruction of the gut biome, weight gain, balding, and decreased libido to name a few.

At the same time, a growing number of influencers advocate tracking fertility cycles naturally – or with apps – to prevent pregnancy, while avoiding birth control altogether.

How did the pill get such a bad reputation and is there anything to worry about? Is cycle tracking a valid alternative? We asked researchers and doctors.

The claim

Hormonal birth control is dangerous. You can effectively prevent pregnancy with natural methods.

The evidence

Decades of use and research have shown that hormonal birth control, such as oral contraceptives, IUDs, patches, i

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