Social media can put women at risk over their sexual health

Where is the first place you turn to for information when you have a health question? 

Chances are you said the internet. That’s the case for most people when they want a quick answer or solution to a medical problem they are having, and it’s hard not to blame them. These days, our phones and social media are all we really need to get quick information. With the click of a button your search can give you thousands of answers, research and remedies that we all think are accurate. But when it comes to women’s sexual health, they are oftentimes being misled.

Social media is now the new search engine many people turn to. On TikTok specifically, people can make videos about their health experiences and information they claim to know. The problem with that, is many of those people do not have the exact science to back up what they are saying. Just because something worked for them, does not mean it will work for you or is the healthy way to do things. Studies show that half of those videos on social media platforms contain misinformation. It’s okay to use social media as an avenue for your concerns, but it should not be the first and only stop to advocating for your health. 

Women’s sexual health is complicated. Between menstruation, fertility and perimenopause women’s bodies are constantly changing, so it’s important to get the most accurate information. Each person’s body is different, and using social media can sometimes cause more harm than good. 

“Social media is at everyone’s fingertips, which makes it easy to get health information online or from friends or family. That is great because it is so accessible, but sometimes it is not always accurate and puts your health at risk. Perimenopause and women’s health in general is already put on the back burner, so it’s important to seek out accurate information,” says Proov CEO Amy Beckley.

Perimenopause specifically is a tough thing to navigate. The symptoms women experience during this chapter of their lives, very closely resembles what they experience during menstruation. 

How confusing is that? It’s extremely confusing, so it’s important to get answers that are personalized to you and your body. 

Recent health advancements like perimenopause testing is something to consider. These at-home urine tests are personalized to each woman. They measure hormones and give women an accurate insight into what their body is going through. Instead of guessing or assuming things about their bodies, women can visually see the changes they are experiencing. Having accurate information like this can then lead them towards symptom management and other avenues of research. Testing like this helps prevent women from navigating their sexual health blindly. 

“The first step is to do at-home perimenopause testing because it can give you clear results on what stage of life you are in. These tests work with your body in a way that nothing else can, so it’s a resource you can fully trust. If you still feel like you have questions, seeking out your doctor for a second opinion is a good idea. Understanding how your body and hormones work, ultimately gives you the tools you need to manage symptoms,” Beckley says. 

Proov Empower is available now to help people find out what their bodies are doing and provide personalized solutions to help women.

Instead of relying on what strangers say on social media, women should look at the science. Having accurate answers in the palm of your hand eliminates all the time they spent searching down a rabbit-hole that might give them false answers. Testing like this gives women more power over their bodies, and helps them fully be in tune with themselves. 

Social media can be a good source to get in touch with people who have similar women’s health experiences, but it should not be the first avenue to look down. Getting the wrong information can be detrimental to your health, and overall spreads a false narrative for women everywhere. Women now have a risk-free approach to better their sexual health. Will you let social media dictate your life?