Another day, another story you can file under 'don't believe everything you read on Twitter'.
If you've been on social media this month, you've probably noticed an infographic of some "natural" approaches to birth control floating around.
- 'Contraceptive earrings' may soon be used to prevent pregnancy
- Why 'taking a break' from the pill could do you more harm than good
- The Snack podcast: Condoms on the windowsill
But unsurhealthprisingly, it turns out the recommendations range from straight up inaccurate, to potentially fatal.
Twitter user and podcast host Bria Badu has come under fire for Tweeting an image of the infographic, captioning it "Girls! Here are some natural birth control options!"
In the image, excessive consumption of papaya, wild yam and even figs are recommended as ways to prevent pregnancy.
The infographic recommends eating wild yam daily so it "starts functioning as a birth prevention remedy," and calls figs "one of the best contraception control methods.
More dangerous this is the inclusion of pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium).
"Pennroyal promotes menstrual flow and helps initiate self-abortion," the entry reads. "Often it is prescribed with other herbs to prevent pregnancy. Boil eight ounces of distilled or spring water."
According to medical professionals, the plant can cause amongst other problems serious kidney, liver, and nervous system damage as well as nausea, stomach pain, high blood pressure, lung failure, brain damage, and vomiting.
"There's no science or medicine to it at all," OB-GYN Nathaniel DeNicola told BuzzFeed News. "It's hardly even worth diving into it because it's so unsupported by science."
"Some of these things shouldn't be consumed at all," he added.
After a swift and severe backlash, Badu deleted the Tweet, but not before it racked up over 14,000 likes.
Many responses to the Tweet remain, with people calling her out for her dangerous, unscientific advice.
"This is wrong and you're spreading misinformation. You know what works? Birth control and condoms," one person Tweeted.
"I JUST had a fig Newton and a ginger snap. Time to let my man go IN," another joked.
The lesson learned is not to take random contraceptive advice from the internet, instead consult your GP or local Family Planning clinic.
Newshub.
