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Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fact Check: Rev. William Barber II arrested by US Capitol Police for praying 'out loud' in Rotunda after 'multiple warnings'
Claim: U.S. Capitol police officers arrested the Rev. William Barber II and two others for praying inside the Capitol Rotunda in Washington on April 28, 2025. Rating: In April 2025, social media posts claimed U.S. Capitol police officers arrested the Rev. William Barber II, a civil rights activist and ordained minister, along with two other individuals for praying inside the Capitol Rotunda in Washington. A Capitol police spokesperson confirmed the reports, saying officers arrested Barber and the two others on April 28 following "multiple warnings" for praying "out loud." Barber's social justice-focused national nonprofit organization, Repairers of the Breach, arranged the group prayer for its "Moral Monday" event, labeling the event a "pray-in." Police described their act of prayer — one focused on opposition to the Republican-proposed budget bill — as "demonstrating." They were charged with violating a D.C. law against "crowding, obstructing, or incommoding," which carries a maximum fine of $500. A story circulating online in late April 2025 claimed U.S. Capitol police officers arrested the Rev. William Barber II, a civil rights activist and ordained minister in the Disciples of Christ denomination, for praying inside the Capitol Rotunda in Washington. For example, Jack Jenkins, a national reporter for Religion News Service, posted (archived) pictures on X showing Capitol police officers standing near Barber and other people inside the Rotunda. The post read: "BREAKING: Police just surrounded Rev. William Barber, prominent activist and pastor, as he and others prayed in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. Police then expelled everyone (including press) to (presumably) arrest them. Covered protests here a lot. Never seen anything like it." Many other social media users also posted about the story. (@jackmjenkins/X) Several Snopes readers asked questions about this matter via email, including, for example, "Was Rev. Dr. William Barber arrested for praying?" as well as, "Was Rev. William Barber really arrested in the Capitol Rotunda for praying against the Republican budget?" A Capitol police spokesperson confirmed to Snopes that this story was true, saying that on April 28, their officers arrested Barber and two other individuals after "multiple warnings" for praying "out loud," including praying in unison as a group, inside the Rotunda. Police described their act of prayer — one focused on opposition to the Republican-proposed budget bill — as "demonstrating." The rest of the police statement, featured below in this article, included details about the law they alleged the three individuals violated. The group prayer took place as part of an organized event called "Moral Monday." Repairers of the Breach, Barber's North Carolina-based, social justice-focused national nonprofit organization, arranged the gathering. The organization's Facebook page hosted a flyer (archived) calling the event "a stand against injustice," as well as a brief, edited video — described later in this article — showing several moments prior to the arrests, including officers clearing all members of the public and anyone identifying themselves as press from the Rotunda. A representative for Repairers of the Breach had not yet responded to several emailed questions as of this writing. The organization did, however, post (archived) on X a statement in a thread of posts, beginning with the text from the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. It reads: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." The organization's statement read, in part: "When prayer and peaceful petition are met with arrest, it shows how much work remains to build a true democracy." The thread identified the other two arrested individuals as the Rev. Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove and Steve Swayne. Wilson-Hartgrove describes himself on his website as a spiritual writer, preacher and community cultivator, as well as an assistant director for partnerships and fellowships at Yale University's Center for Public Theology and Public Policy. Following the arrests, he appeared in a video interview posted on X. Swayne serves as the director of the St. Francis Springs Prayer Center. In an emailed response to Snopes dated April 30, a Capitol police spokesperson said "yes" in response to a request to confirm the arrests. The statement read: Three people were arrested for demonstrating inside the Congressional Buildings, which is not allowed in any form, to include but not limited to sitting, kneeling, group praying, singing, chanting, etc. In this case, they started praying quietly and then began to pray out loud. That is when we gave them multiple warnings to stop or they would be arrested. Three people didn't stop. The spokesperson cited a charge against the three individuals from the Code of the District of Columbia: "§ 22–1307. Crowding, obstructing, or incommoding." The charge carries a maximum fine of $500. "Basically, they just have to pay a ticket," they said, adding, "There are other spots on Capitol grounds where this type of demonstrating is allowed." The Capitol Police website hosts a map (archived) of demonstration permit areas. Another page provides information about applying for a permit. According to the statement, the Rotunda "quickly reopened," and they only "very briefly restricted" the space during the arrests. A brief, edited video hosted on the Repairers of the Breach Facebook page featured Barber wearing a clergy stole imprinted with the words, "Jesus was a poor man." The clip's caption read, "Today, as clergy - including Bishop William J. Barber, II - and people of moral conscience respectfully prayed in the rotunda of the United States Capitol, they were arrested while the public and cameras, including those belonging to press outlets, were banned from the area." In the video clip, which only showed short segments of the prayer, Barber prayed: "We are here crying to you, oh God, because we've heard the cries of your people." The video then cut to Wilson-Hartgrove, who recited from a piece of paper, "We have also read the budget resolution of this Congress, which calls for $1.5 trillion in cuts to life-saving and life-sustaining programs in order to give a tax break to billionaires." Swayne, also reading from a piece of paper, said, "Deliver us, oh Lord, from the deceptive lie that says our nation will be better off if those who have little get less, and those who have too much get more." After Barber and the others each spoke about the Republican budget bill during the group prayer, they and other unidentified individuals all recited together, "Against the conspiracy of cruelty, we plead the power of your mercy." A uniformed man identifying himself as a captain with the Capitol Police then informed the group, "Right now, you're participating in an unlawful demonstration. If you don't cease and desist the activity, you are subject to arrest." The video showed other officers also warning the group, including unidentified people recording videos, telling them they may be arrested if they did not exit the Rotunda. One unidentified officer said, "It doesn't matter if you're press." The clip showed that same officer moments later informing another officer, "They're not allowed in there right now. The press isn't allowed in." An article from Religion News Service, authored by Jenkins, featured an interview with Barber conducted after the arrests, reporting the praying lasted for around 15 minutes, as well as the fact that Barber called his interactions with Capitol police officers "cordial." According to Bing, DuckDuckGo and Google, the incident followed arrests of Barber in past years also pertaining to demonstrations. In one of Barber's more prominent national appearances, he delivered the homily during an interfaith Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service hosted by Washington National Cathedral following former U.S. President Joe Biden's inauguration in January 2021. "§ 22–1307. Crowding, Obstructing, or Incommoding." Council of the District of Columbia, D.C. Law Library, "§ 22–3571.01. Fines for Criminal Offenses." Council of the District of Columbia, D.C. Law Library, Barber II, William J. "Read the Rev. William Barber's Sermon From the Inaugural Prayer Service." TIME, 21 Jan. 2021, "Bio." Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, "Clergy and People of Moral Conscience Arrested for Praying Inside the United States Capitol." Facebook, Repairers of the Breach, 28 Apr. 2025, Dias, Elizabeth, and Ruth Graham. "'This Moment Is Critical.' Whither Progressive Christians After Pope Francis?" The New York Times, 24 Apr. 2025, "First Amendment." Constitution Annotated, Jenkins, Jack. "Rev. William Barber Arrested in Capitol Rotunda after Praying against Republican-Led Budget." RNS, 28 Apr. 2025, ---. "The Rev. William Barber Arrested in Capitol Rotunda after Praying against Republican-Led Budget." Episcopal News Service, 29 Apr. 2025, "Moral Mondays in DC at the Capitol." EveryAction, "NC Rev. Barber Holds Major Role at Inauguration Service." The Associated Press, 21 Jan. 2021, "Prohibited Items." U.S. Capitol - Visitor Center, Quillin, Martha. "Rev. William Barber Arrested While Praying at US Capitol. Here's What We Know." The News & Observer, 29 Apr. 2025, Repairers of the Breach. Spectrum News Staff, Raleigh. "Civil Rights Activist Rev. William Barber Found Guilty in Court." Spectrum News 1, 6 June 2019, "Steve Swayne." St. Francis Springs Prayer Center, "Visitor Guidelines." U.S. Capitol - Visitor Center, "William J. Barber II." Charles F. Kettering Foundation,
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
UK School faces backlash after canceling Easter celebration for 'inclusivity'
A secular primary school in England faced backlash from Christians after it canceled its annual Easter parade and service to create a more "inclusive" environment. Around fifty Christians gathered outside Norwood Primary School in Eastleigh, Hampshire on April 4 to protest the school's decision, according to The Telegraph. Protesters from a Disciples of Christ church held signs that read, "Christ is King," "End the persecution of Christians," and "the one true faith." They also held a banner that read, "Headteacher Stephanie Mander wants to cancel Easter – let's cancel her!" Mander reportedly sent a letter home to parents informing them that the school's Easter Bonnet Parade and Easter service would be canceled this year to make sure all beliefs were respected. Bay Area Christians Fighting City Which Took Down Cross: 'They Really Hate What It Stands For' "By not holding specific religious celebrations, we aim to create a more inclusive atmosphere that honors and respects the beliefs of all our children and their families," Mander's letter reportedly said. Read On The Fox News App According to The Telegraph, Mander's letter said she sympathized with families who would be disappointed by this decision but believed canceling the Easter celebrations better "aligns with our values of inclusivity and respect for diversity." "We are exploring alternative ways to celebrate the season in future years that will be inclusive of all children and reflect the rich cultural diversity of our community," the letter concluded. Students will still learn about the religious holiday in the classroom and through an arts and crafts activity, the school later said, according to The Telegraph. Bishop Barron Criticizes 'Tired Arguments' Used Against Christianity Every Easter, Offers New Sign Of Hope The Christians who showed up to the protest warned that Christianity was being sidelined in the UK. "When I was in school, Christianity was very much a part of it," Marie Pigney from Titchfield told The Telegraph. "I, and many others, believe that a foundation in Christianity is really good for children and society. Christians are fed up of being pushed out and being called names." Nick Tenconi, leader of the UK Independence Party who also spoke at the protest, reportedly said, "We are saying that Christianity is being put to the side so that headteachers can tick a diversity box to receive more money." A handful of parents stood nearby and held a counter-protest in support of the school and headteacher. Russell Brand Opens Up About Sobriety, Conversion To Christianity, In Interview With Sean Hannity One parent counter-protester named Iqra told The Telegraph that none of the protesters who showed up that day had children who attended the school. "I am just so upset that the children are being taught hate. It is so unnecessary," she said. Another parent commented, "At the end of the day, they are still celebrating Easter." "Miss Mander is an amazing person, she has brought this school out of the gutter," the parent praised. Fox News Digital reached out to Norwood Primary for comment but has yet to receive a article source: UK School faces backlash after canceling Easter celebration for 'inclusivity'
Fox News
13-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
UK School faces backlash after canceling Easter celebration for 'inclusivity'
A secular primary school in England faced backlash from Christians after it canceled its annual Easter parade and service to create a more "inclusive" environment. Around fifty Christians gathered outside Norwood Primary School in Eastleigh, Hampshire on April 4 to protest the school's decision, according to The Telegraph. Protesters from a Disciples of Christ church held signs that read, "Christ is King," "End the persecution of Christians," and "the one true faith." They also held a banner that read, "Headteacher Stephanie Mander wants to cancel Easter – let's cancel her!" Mander reportedly sent a letter home to parents informing them that the school's Easter Bonnet Parade and Easter service would be canceled this year to make sure all beliefs were respected. "By not holding specific religious celebrations, we aim to create a more inclusive atmosphere that honors and respects the beliefs of all our children and their families," Mander's letter reportedly said. According to The Telegraph, Mander's letter said she sympathized with families who would be disappointed by this decision but believed canceling the Easter celebrations better "aligns with our values of inclusivity and respect for diversity." "We are exploring alternative ways to celebrate the season in future years that will be inclusive of all children and reflect the rich cultural diversity of our community," the letter concluded. Students will still learn about the religious holiday in the classroom and through an arts and crafts activity, the school later said, according to The Telegraph. The Christians who showed up to the protest warned that Christianity was being sidelined in the UK. "When I was in school, Christianity was very much a part of it," Marie Pigney from Titchfield told The Telegraph. "I, and many others, believe that a foundation in Christianity is really good for children and society. Christians are fed up of being pushed out and being called names." Nick Tenconi, leader of the UK Independence Party who also spoke at the protest, reportedly said, "We are saying that Christianity is being put to the side so that headteachers can tick a diversity box to receive more money." A handful of parents stood nearby and held a counter-protest in support of the school and headteacher. One parent counter-protester named Iqra told The Telegraph that none of the protesters who showed up that day had children who attended the school. "I am just so upset that the children are being taught hate. It is so unnecessary," she said. Another parent commented, "At the end of the day, they are still celebrating Easter." "Miss Mander is an amazing person, she has brought this school out of the gutter," the parent praised. Fox News Digital reached out to Norwood Primary for comment but has yet to receive a response.
BBC News
20-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Can the pill really make women more anxious?
Some women are concerned about how contraceptive pills could be affecting their mental health. Are these fears backed up by evidence? Like many young women, Sarah E Hill spent her late teens and most of her twenties on the contraceptive pill. "I never thought twice about it," says Hill, now a researcher who teaches evolutionary psychology at Texas Christian University, an institution affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States. It was only when she switched contraceptives, 12 years after starting to take the pill, that an epiphany dawned on her. "My life felt brighter and more interesting, like I had walked out of a 2D black-and-white movie into a full-colour, 3D, meaning-filled reality," says Hill. Her experiences of taking oral contraceptives inspired her to study the science involved and publish a book, How the Pill Changes Everything, in 2019. In recent years, many women have become concerned about the pill's side effects, particularly on their moods and mental health. In fact, there has been a growing backlash – one which is most evident on social media where hashtags like #quittingbirthcontrol have drummed up millions of views. This is thought to partly explain why the pill has been suffering a popularity crisis of late. Prescription figures are falling in many developed countries: England's Sexual and Reproductive Health services reported that the uptake of oral contraceptives had fallen from 39% in 2020-2021 to 27% in 2021-2022. Meanwhile, American pill-users dropped from 31% in 2002 to 24% between 2017 and 2019, while Canada and Australia reported pill use tailing off from 23% to 11% from 2006-2016 and 2008-2016, respectively. In addition to discussing legitimate concerns, social media influencers have been spreading misinformation about the contraceptive pill's side effects, both mental and physical. While they may have no medical background, some are even encouraging women to abandon contraception altogether – a trend which some experts believe could be behind a recent spike in abortions in the UK. But can the pill really alter one's personality and outlook on life? Can it contribute to serious mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, or even lead to suicide, in extreme cases? A slow response The answer, it appears, isn't clear-cut. When the pill made its debut in the US in 1960, it amassed a whopping 1.2 million users within two years. The tiny beige tablets marked a revolutionary new birth control, hailed by women as a symbol of sexual liberation and female empowerment, freeing them from fear that an unwanted pregnancy would derail their careers or degrees. Today, oral contraceptives are the go-to choice for some 150 million women around the world, or roughly 16% of the global contraceptive-taking population, with a failure rate of only 1% (or 9% when you factor in human error such as forgetting the occasional dose). The failure rate of a contraceptive is defined as the number of unintended pregnancies that would occur if 100 women used that method for a year. There are two types of contraceptive pill, and both are made up of artificial sex hormones. First, there's the most popular kind, the combined pill, which contains synthetic versions of oestrogen and progesterone. The other is the progestogen-only pill, or "mini-pill". Both work to prevent pregnancy in a handful of ways, including suppressing ovulation and thickening the cervical mucus to make it harder for a sperm to penetrate and reach an egg. However, the hormones in oral contraceptives don't just affect the body, they can also have powerful effects on women's brains. "The impact of hormones on the brain is complicated," says Johannes Bitzer, an obstetrician-gynaecologist (OBGYN) and psychotherapist at the University Hospital Basel in Switzerland. "For some individuals, the pill has a positive effect on mental well-being. In others, it may cause irritation and even anxiety." Medical warnings, for the most part of the pill's 65-year history, have been scant. Some sexual health providers in the UK and the US make no mention whatsoever of the mental side effects of the pill on their websites. "I think the big issue is that in OBGYN training, mental health is not a subject. It's for the psychiatrists," says Bitzer, who has been in the field for nearly 40 years. Things are slowly changing, but "before, when we discussed the pill, we talked about thrombosis, cancer, irregular bleeding, weight gain, and so on. The issue of mental health was more or less excluded," he says. There hadn't been much investigation into potential mental side effects from researchers, either. But a shift started taking place in 2016, says Bitzer, when a group from Denmark published a seminal paper on the topic, leading to more research in the years after. In the original Danish study, researchers dug into the country's national health database to track the mental health of over a million women aged between 15 and 34 over a period of 14 years. They discovered that women who started taking the combined pill were 70% more likely to be prescribed antidepressants six months later, as compared to those who had never taken oral contraceptives. For those starting on the mini-pill, the risk was 80%. In 2023, a separate group of researchers gleaned similar results when they analysed the health records of a quarter of a million women in the UK Biobank, a large repository of genetic and medical information. Pill-users, they found, were 71% more likely to be depressed compared with never-users, two years after beginning their contraceptive. "There's a convincing temporal association between starting use of these products and then developing depression symptoms," says Øjvind Lidegaard, a medical epidemiologist specialising in obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of Copenhagen, who led the Danish study. However, both of these studies were "cohort studies", conducted by analysing the data of large groups of women, and comparing the mental health outcomes of those who were taking oral contraceptives with those who weren't. This means they were able to identify if there was an association between these two things, but not unravel whether there was cause and effect. There could, for example, be some pre-existing differences between the groups of women that affect the results. Conflicting results Some studies seem to contradict the correlation between certain mental health conditions and oral contraceptive use. For instance, when researchers at Ohio State University reviewed 26 earlier studies, they found only a "minimal" link between progestogen-only methods of contraception and depression. Separately, in two clinical trials, each involving between 200 and 340 women in Sweden, researchers concluded that the combined pill didn't lead to depression or worsening mood. Intriguingly, taking a "break" from oral contraceptives – as is required for seven days each month with many types of the combined pill – can lead to mood worsening, according to some findings. In a 2023 study involving 120 pill-taking women in Austria, some of whom were long-term users, participants reported feeling a 7% increase in anxiety during their pill pause, as well as a 13% and 24% rise in negative feelings and mental health symptoms, respectively. "So from a mental health perspective, it might be more beneficial for contraceptive users to go for continuous use," says Belinda Pletzer, a cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Salzburg, who is leading an EU-funded project to study the effect of hormonal contraceptives on the female brain. Pletzer doesn't discount the fact that some women do suffer poorly, psychologically speaking, when on the pill, and that these symptoms should be taken seriously. "But it's just a small percentage of women," she says. One reason to explain the vast discrepancy in study findings on the mental side-effects of oral contraceptives is quite simply the nature of what's at hand, says Helena Kopp Kallner, an OBGYN at Danderyd Hospital near Stockholm in Sweden. Namely, that mental health conditions are often measured subjectively, and are notoriously difficult to study. Add to that that there are many different pill types (over 30 brands of the combined pill exist), so often scientists might end up comparing apples to oranges, she says. The different studies also use varying methodologies, she says. What researchers look for at the end of their study also affects their findings, adds Bitzer. In the Danish study, for instance, "the fact that you get prescribed antidepressants is not necessarily related to a diagnosis of depression, but to the practice of the doctor, which makes your outcome measure quite problematic", he says. It's also hard to prove cause-and-effect relationships from such observational studies, says Sofia Zettermark, a physician based in Gothenburg, Sweden, because there could be other factors – such as genetics and one's environment – that may influence the results. For example, when she analysed the health records of nearly a million women in the national Swedish registries, she discovered that women from low-income and immigrant backgrounds were more sensitive to experiencing mood changes on hormonal contraception. Lidegaard, for his part, clarifies that his study must be understood in the wider context. "There's no doubt that some women who start using hormonal contraception experience severe changes in their mental health," says Lidegaard. "However, it's important to realise that it's only 7 to 8% who face so many mental incidences that they are forced to stop taking their majority of women taking these products don't feel any severe discomfort mentally." And of course, for some women the benefits of oral contraceptives may outweigh any side-effects. In addition to providing highly effective contraception, the combined and mini-pill can have other positive physical effects. "If you have endometriosis, heavy bleeding, or PMDD [premenstrual dysphoric disorder, an extreme and debilitating form of PMS], then the pill can actually help improve it," says Kopp Kallner. Pregnancy itself can also involve significant health complications, particularly in the developing world. Meanwhile, several studies have found a link between unplanned pregnancy and a higher risk of depression. Altering brain chemistry But where there are impacts on mental health, how exactly does this happen? There are many ways that oral contraceptives might be able to interfere with women's moods. One side-effect of the contraceptive pill is that it affects the production of natural oestrogen and progesterone, hormones which have potent roles in the brain including cognition as well as neuroprotective effects, modulating blood flow, inflammation, and signalling. Instead, combined and mini-pills, as well as hormone replacement therapy (HRT), contain synthetic versions of these hormones which disrupt the natural progression of the menstrual cycle. This includes progestins, a group of artificial progestogen hormones that can be manufactured in a variety of ways, though the majority are made from testosterone. Neither synthetic oestrogens or progestins are chemically identical to the hormones naturally produced by the body. This is thought to have a number of consequences. One is that, in women who are taking the contraceptive pill, pathways involving the neurotransmitter serotonin – which is often described as the brain's natural "mood-booster" – might be disrupted. In one study, a group of Danish researchers analysed brain scans of 53 healthy women, 16 of which were taking oral contraceptive pills, to assess the activity of the serotonin system. They found that the women using oral contraceptives had 9-12% lower levels of a certain type of serotonin signalling compared to the women who were not taking these drugs. The effect was twice as large as the impact that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants are known to have on this particular kind of signalling. The researchers speculated that this might be the mechanism responsible for the link between oral contraceptives and depression. There's also some evidence that the artificial oestrogen and progestins present in oral contraceptives might interfere with the production of allopregnanolone, another hormone with crucial roles in the brain – particularly the regulation of mood and the body's stress response. A pharmaceutical version of this hormone was approved in the US in 2019 for the treatment of post-natal depression. In women who are not taking artificial sex hormones, progesterone can be converted into allopregnanolone. But in women using the contraceptive pill, this process is thought to be disrupted: progestins don't get broken down into allopregnanolone, meaning they may miss out on some of its anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects. In one study conducted in rats, those taking oral contraceptives had lower concentrations of allopregnanolone in the brain. In another study in rats, this reduction was found to be linked to a reduction in social behaviour and sexual motivation – side effects which the authors speculated might be relevant to women taking oral contraceptives. However, the results of animal studies do not always translate into humans. Making matters worse, the pill can mess up a woman's stress response, possibly leading to anxiety and depression. "What researchers have found is that you get a blunting of the cortisol response to stress that most naturally cycling women experience," explains Hill. "No cortisol equals no stress, which might sound like a good thing on the surface. But that's not how it works – cortisol isn't what causes stress, it's how our body helps cope with and recover from stress." Adolescent risk There's one group in particular that Lidegaard worries about: teenage girls. His study revealed that those aged between 15 and 19 were almost twice as likely (1.8 times) to receive an antidepressant prescription after starting the combined pill compared to those who did not take the pill. For those on the mini-pill, the risk was more than double (this group was 2.2 times more likely to be prescribed antidepressants than those who did not take the pill). Similarly, Zettermark's study found that adolescent girls displayed the strongest association between hormonal contraceptives and antidepressant and anti-anxiety medication use. Those aged 12 to 14 were 240% and 190% more likely to be prescribed the drugs within a year of starting the combined pill and mini-pill, respectively; or 52% and 83% if they were between 15 and 17 years old. In another study, based on the data from 264,557 women invovled with the UK Biobank, researchers found that those who had taken oral contraceptives at some point in their lives had a higher risk of developing depression over their lifetime, but the risk was most pronounced during the first two years of use. Apart from adolescents, there's another group many physicians are wary of prescribing oral contraception to. "If you have been depressed previously, have recurrent depressions, or any psychiatric issues at all, you have an increased risk of feeling depressed on the pill," cautions Kopp Kallner. Experts such as Kopp Kallner say self-awareness is key – you should monitor your mood for a few months when you first start the pill, or switch from one brand to another. If you have concerns about how your contraception is affecting your mood, arrange to speak to your healthcare provider. With so many different types of progestins, and combinations of these with artificial oestrogen, not to mention the different doses and preparations, finding the right fit is "a little bit of an art," says Bitzer. "It's very much individualised treatment." However, there are many other types of contraception available that either do not involve hormones or contain lower doses than oral contraceptives, including male and female condoms (which can also help protect against sexually transmitted diseases), the vaginal ring, the IUS (the hormonal coil), the IUD (the copper coil), and sterilisation. For Hill, changing the method of contraception she used was life-altering. "Take the time to find a mode of pregnancy protection that makes you feel like the person you want to be," she advises. "With time, patience, and self-compassion, you will be able to find something that works for you." * All information in this article is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of a doctor or other health care professional. The BBC is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based on the content of this site. The BBC is not liable for the contents of any external internet sites listed, nor does it endorse any commercial product or service mentioned or advised on any of the sites. Always consult your own GP if you're in any way concerned about your health. -- For trusted insights into better health and wellbeing rooted in science, sign up to the Health Fix newsletter, while The Essential List delivers a handpicked selection of features and insights. For more science, technology, environment and health stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.
