Misinformation in Women’s Health
A review of systemic bias in women’s health.
Reading time: 8-10 minutes
Misinformation in women's health has become one of social media's most dangerous epidemics. Nowadays, where anyone can publish health advice to millions of followers, the stakes have never been higher—particularly for women, whose health concerns have historically been dismissed or misunderstood.
The numbers are truly alarming: approximately 80% of people now turn to the internet for health information, and nearly one in five women (18%) specifically rely on YouTube, online communities, and social media platforms for guidance on menstrual health. This means countless women worldwide are making critical health decisions based on unverified claims, potentially leading to misdiagnosis, delayed treatment, or harmful self-care practices.
This article explains how historical medical neglect has made women particularly vulnerable to online health misinformation and identifies the top 10 most pervasive women's health myths on social media.
The History Behind Women’s Health Research
Medical research spans 2500 years, starting in the 500s B.C. in Ancient Greece and continuing to our modern age today. Throughout all these years, doctors and scientific researchers have considered women as unworthy research subjects, deeming their bodies “atypical” compared to men’s bodies. Researchers even stray away from using female mice. This historical bias led to women being excluded from hundreds of clinical trials and research articles and is the sole contributing rationale to healthcare disparities.
Furthermore, since most funding for medical research is allocated to men, most women have to take medications that are approved for men’s bodies. However, women metabolize medications differently, experience different symptoms during heart attacks, and respond uniquely to treatments across nearly every medical specialty. The consequences of this oversight are staggering. Women are 50% more likely to be misdiagnosed when having a heart attack because the "classic" symptoms taught in medical schools, like crushing chest pain or left arm numbness, are actually male symptoms. Women often experience subtler signs like nausea, fatigue, or back pain, symptoms that were historically dismissed as "anxiety" or "stress."
The bias extends far beyond cardiovascular health. Autoimmune diseases, which disproportionately affect women, remained poorly understood for generations. Many gynecological conditions, such as endometriosis, which affects up to 68% of women, take an average of 7-12 years to receive a proper diagnosis.
Today's medical textbooks, treatment guidelines, and drug dosages are all built on this foundation of male-biased research. When the sleep aid Ambien was approved by the FDA, it was tested primarily on men. It wasn't until decades later that researchers discovered women metabolize the drug more slowly, leading to dangerous next-day drowsiness.
While researchers have been making progress, true equity in medical research requires sustained effort. We need more women in research leadership positions, more funding allocated to conditions that primarily affect women, and continued vigilance to ensure that "evidence-based medicine" actually includes evidence on half of the population.
Top 10 Biggest Lies about Women’s Health
1. "Detox teas/supplements can regulate your menstrual cycle"
Dr. Jen Gunter, an OB-GYN, explains that "there is no evidence to support the claim that the uterus removes hormones from the blood" and that "menstruation isn't a detox or a way to excrete hormones." [8] Medical sources note that while detox programs can influence menstrual cycles, "it's common for some to notice changes in their flow or the timing of their period during the cleanse" but these changes are part of body stress, not beneficial regulation.
2. "Alkaline water/diets prevent cancer and 'balance your pH'"
Multiple medical sources confirm that "it's nearly impossible to greatly alter the pH level of your blood by eating or drinking certain foods or liquids. Your body naturally balances its internal pH level." HealthlineMdanderson, a systematic review published in BMJ Open found "no evidence for or against diet acid load and/or alkaline water for the initiation or treatment of cancer. Promotion of alkaline diet and alkaline water to the public for cancer prevention or treatment is not justified." [9]
3. "Yoni steaming/vaginal steaming cleanses toxins"
Medical experts warn that "there's no scientific evidence that vaginal steaming helps any condition" and that it "may increase your risk of vaginal infection by altering the vaginal bacteria ecosystem." Cleveland Clinic states: "The vagina is a self-cleansing organ, so the use of steaming, douching or other cleansing agents is not necessary or recommended as it disrupts the natural bacterial balance." [10]
4. "Raw diets cure PCOS, endometriosis, and other conditions"
Medical authorities are clear that "there's currently no cure for this condition [endometriosis], but it can be managed with comprehensive care" and "changing what you eat won't cure it." [11] Similarly for PCOS, "there is currently no cure for PCOS, but diet and medical treatment can help manage weight, glucose levels, and other features and complications." [12]
5. "Sunscreen causes cancer more than sun exposure"
Medical authorities state clearly: "There is no evidence that sunscreen causes cancer. Your cancer risk is much greater from sun exposure." [13] While some specific chemical concerns exist in certain sunscreen products, "the cancer risk from not wearing sunscreen far exceeds any potential health risk from sunscreen ingredients."
6. "Essential oils can replace hormonal birth control"
According to expert aromatherapist Robert Tisserand, "it is unlikely that aromatherapy has any unwanted effect on oral contraception" and "evidence regarding EOs interfering with conception does not exist." [14] Research shows that while some essential oils may have reproductive effects, "there is no decisive evidence that these oils are abortifacient in aromatherapy amounts."
7. "Seed cycling regulates hormones naturally"
Multiple sources confirm that "despite plenty of anecdotal accounts of its usefulness, scientific evidence to back its claims is lacking" and "there is no solid evidence that the act of seed cycling specifically helps balance hormones." Scientific American notes that while seed cycling is trendy, the scientific support for hormonal regulation claims is absent. [15]
8. "Bras cause breast cancer"
The American Cancer Society states that "no scientific evidence supports this claim, and a 2014 study of more than 1,500 women confirmed this rumor is false." [16] MD Anderson Cancer Center's medical director emphasizes: "We don't have any evidence to support that theory. While breast cancers can develop in the lower inner and outer quadrants of the breast — the parts closest to the underwire — that's not the most common location for them to occur." [17]
9. "Vaccines cause infertility/miscarriages"
The CDC states definitively: "There is currently no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, cause fertility problems in women or men." [18] Multiple systematic reviews and meta-analyses found "no scientific proof of any association between COVID-19 vaccines and fertility impairment in men or women." [19] The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists asserts: "no loss of fertility has been reported among trial participants or among the millions who have received the vaccines since their authorization."
10. "Celery juice cures everything from acne to autoimmune diseases"
Medical experts are clear that "there is no clinical evidence to support the purported health benefits of celery juice, and no single food is ever a cure-all for every health condition." [20] Specifically regarding the major health claims: "no evidence supports the existence of these salts" (referring to claimed "undiscovered mineral salts"), "there haven't been any human trials investigating celery juice's effects on health," and "there is no evidence that celery juice detoxifies your body."
These sources represent peer-reviewed medical literature, statements from major medical organizations like the CDC, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and Cleveland Clinic, as well as systematic reviews published in reputable journals.
Works Cited
Kymera Medical. (n.d.). A brief history of medical research. Retrieved from https://kymeramedical.com/a-brief-history-of-medical-research/
American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC). (n.d.). Why we know so little about women’s health. Retrieved from https://www.aamc.org/news/why-we-know-so-little-about-women-s-health
Chuck, E. (2019, December 16). Social media hosted a lot of fake health news this year. Here’s what went most viral. NBC News. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/social-media-hosted-lot-fake-health-news-year-here-s-n1107466
Medidata. (n.d.). Women in clinical trials: A history of exclusion. Retrieved from https://www.medidata.com/en/life-science-resources/medidata-blog/women-in-clinical-trials-history/
Verma, A., & Verma, S. (2024). The historical exclusion of women from clinical trials and the need for inclusive research. Cureus, 16(1), e53641. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.53641
British Heart Foundation (BHF). (2016, August). Women are 50% more likely than men to be given incorrect diagnosis following a heart attack. Retrieved from https://www.bhf.org.uk/what-we-do/news-from-the-bhf/news-archive/2016/august/women-are-50-per-cent-more-likely-than-men-to-be-given-incorrect-diagnosis-following-a-heart-attack
Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Endometriosis. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10857-endometriosis
Vajenda. (2023, September). The menstrual cycle is not a detox. Vajenda Substack. Retrieved from https://vajenda.substack.com/p/the-menstrual-cycle-is-not-a-detox
Watson, K. (2020, March 4). Can alkaline water help prevent or treat cancer? Healthline. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/cancer/alkaline-water-cancer
Cleveland Clinic. (2023, August 14). Vaginal steaming: Does it actually do anything? Retrieved from https://health.clevelandclinic.org/vaginal-steaming
SSM Health. (n.d.). Endometriosis and diet booklet. Retrieved from https://www.ssmhealth.com/SSMHealth/media/Documents/slucare/services/obstetrics-gynecology-womens-health/endometriosis-diet-booklet.pdf
Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8316-polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos
Breastcancer.org. (n.d.). Exposure to chemicals in sunscreen. Retrieved from https://www.breastcancer.org/risk/risk-factors/exposure-to-chemicals-in-sunscreen
Eden’s Garden. (n.d.). EO Mythstakes: Do essential oils affect birth control? Retrieved from https://www.edensgarden.com/blogs/news/eo-mythstakes-eos-affecting-birth-control
Gersh, M. (2022, May 25). What is seed cycling? Healthline. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/seed-cycling
St. Luke’s Health. (n.d.). 5 breast cancer myths debunked. Retrieved from https://www.stlukeshealth.org/resources/5-breast-cancer-myths-debunked
Vajenda. (2024, January). Bras don’t cause breast cancer. Vajenda Substack. Retrieved from https://vajenda.substack.com/p/bras-dont-cause-breast-cancer
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). (2021, February 5). Medical experts assert COVID vaccines do not impact fertility. Retrieved from https://www.acog.org/news/news-releases/2021/02/medical-experts-assert-covid-vaccines-do-not-impact-fertility
Ng, A. K., et al. (2022). The myths and facts around COVID-19 vaccination and fertility: A review. Cureus, 14(9), e29394. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.29394
Memorial Hermann. (n.d.). Celery juice: Health trend or health hazard? Retrieved from https://memorialhermann.org/health-wellness/nutrition/celery-juice
Janine Knudsen et al. (2022). Combating Misinformation as a Core Function of Public Health NEJM Catalyst. https://doi.org/10.1056/CAT.22.0198
Flo Health. (2023). U.S. reproductive health report. https://flo.health/landings/reproductive-health-report-us
