Contraception and fertility treatments are one of the most widely supported public health issue areas, with non-partisan agreement about the importance of access to both. Nevertheless, misinformation and disinformation about contraception, IVF and public health facts about pregnancy and fertility have proliferated at a concerning rate. The result has been widespread confusion and escalating partisanship on policy and contraception.

This guide offers factual, science-based resources for journalists to support accurate reporting on contraception, IVF and pregnancy basics. Significant political and religious divides about access to contraceptive and IVF methods — and even the basics of pregnancy — can create challenging conditions for journalists. 

This guide relies on the long-established medical definitions of pregnancy, contraception and abortion as adopted by the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) and embedded in federal policy. It also relies on the U.S. Surgeon General’s report, “Confronting Misinformation,” which advises journalists to respond to health disinformation by “giv[ing] readers a sense of where the scientific community stands and how strong the available evidence is for different views.”

The chart and videos below provide additional information and perspective for journalists who cover topics related to pregnancy, contraception and IVF.

The following sections highlight eight core components to navigating the anti-contraception and anti-IVF battleground. Each of the following sections are hyperlinked for your convenience. 

This chart can be used as a guide to medically accurate terminology when reporting on the pregnancy process.

The following are additional resources for reporting on the pregnancy process:

  1. A medical explainer video (2:50 mins) by leading national expert Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley reviews the pregnancy process through the lens of policy debates and contraceptive mis- and disinformation.

  2. A medical ethics explainer video (5 mins), featuring medical ethicist and professor Katie Watson, addresses the various ways that journalists could be inadvertently promulgating misinformation about contraception and IVF.

This guide identifies a known reporting challenge and recommends an approach to managing the challenge. Common challenges for journalists reporting on contraception covered in this guide include:

  • Terminology to describe anti-contraception actions

  • Debates about reproductive health science

  • Story content that drives misinformation

  • Overlooking anti-contraception language in pro-contraception policy proposals

  • Overlooking policy impact on contraception and IVF

  • Editorial confusion with intersecting stories

Many news stories characterize opponents of contraception as “anti-abortion,” ostensibly because their primary organizational goal is to oppose abortion. In addition, many of these groups and/or elected officials claim to not be anti-contraception, yet they support policies that misdefine popular and highly effective methods of contraception as abortion and thus restrict access to contraception.  

Characterizing anti-contraception actions as anti-abortion can inadvertently give validity to the disinformation that some contraceptive methods end a pregnancy. Clarifying that these anti-abortion policies also result in restrictions on contraception provides readers with more in-depth understanding. 

The term “conception” medically refers to the implantation stage of pregnancy, which marks the start of pregnancy. However, people have varying definitions of “conception” on a personal level, and it has become a politicized term that is primarily used by anti-contraception entities, such as the Catholic Church and its supporters. There are also widespread inconsistencies concerning how the term is used in medical settings, and its use can mean different things to different populations.

Recommendation

Use the current medical definition of pregnancy (see Glossary section, page 43, below) to determine whether a group or leader is working against contraception or abortion or both. Many media stories describe groups and elected officials opposing contraception as “anti-abortion,” which can exacerbate misinformation about the conflation of abortion and contraception.

Example:

Recommendation

When writing a contraception-focused story, if an organization is working to diminish access to contraception, it is most clear and accurate to use one of the anti-contraception terms below:

DEFINING POSITIONS ON CONTRACEPTION:

FROM NEUTRAL TO OPPOSED

The term “conception” is not a neutral term and should be clarified or avoided. If used, the term should be directly accompanied by clarification about whether the story is referring to the medical definition of conception (synonymous with implantation) or to a religious, political and/or personal definition.  

When “conception” is used as a synonym for fertilization, it is important to clarify that this is not the scientific definition of when a pregnancy begins. In abortion-related legislation or discourse, it might also be important to clarify that this term is being used to redefine or blur the current medical definition of contraception. Importantly, a medically inaccurate definition of pregnancy also has implications for IVF: Since IVF requires a united egg and sperm to be outside of the uterus before implantation, it would be banned if a policy recognized “life” at conception (i.e., at fertilization).

A significant part of the political debate over contraceptive policy centers on potential advancements in reproductive medicine. In particular, those who are concerned about preventing early abortion suspect that some contraceptives could be used to end a pregnancy developing in the womb. This is distinct from the belief that the start of medical pregnancy should be considered at the earlier fertilization stage.

These concerns can lead to the promulgation of misinformation.

Recommendations

Require additional editorial scrutiny when prognosticating about the political impact of potential scientific advancement.

Scrutinize statements that claim that abortion and contraception can be conflated for medical accuracy.

Examples:

Story content that can fuel misinformation, including conflation of abortion and contraception

A recent review of mainstream media coverage of issues related to contraception found a persistent trend of conflating abortion and contraception. Some stories lacked enough context so as to imply or even inaccurately state that some contraception ends — rather than prevents — a pregnancy. Much of the conflation of contraception and abortion was found in headlines of stories that otherwise provided more accurate information. In some cases, this conflation occurred in descriptive writing and quotes from sources who provided medically inaccurate information without an adjacent clarification to avoid reader confusion.

Examples:

Recommendations

Establish additional editorial due diligence for contraceptive stories, in particular those that address political or legal conflicts.

Align with the medical definitions of pregnancy, which is the current AP standard. Treat medical misinformation about contraception the same as other health mis- and disinformation.

Treat political arguments that do not align with medical science as opinion, not fact.  Avoid presenting this issue as a partisan argument rather than a challenge to medical science, and avoid terms that are known to spur confusion or partisanship. 

Be vigilant about headlines with abbreviations that often sow misinformation. Use extra scrutiny for headlines that intersect scientific advancement with political debates.

Edit with special caution: scientific and medical advancements in contraception, IVF and abortion.

Ensure adherence to medical science.

Screen for bias or disinformation.

In recent years, proactive federal bill proposals that claim to expand access to birth control specifically exclude emergency contraception, shrink the definition of contraception and/or impose an arbitrary age restriction on access. Yet some media stories framed these bills as broadly pro-contraceptive efforts, ignoring the aspects of the proposals that would reduce existing access to contraceptive options. 

Recommendations

Adopt standards for describing a policy proposal as positive, vis-à-vis contraceptive access that aligns with current medical standards.

Add additional scrutiny to purportedly “pro-contraception” proposals that exclude FDA-approved contraceptives, such as emergency contraception.

Add additional scrutiny to pro-contraception proposals that redefine the medical beginning of pregnancy to fertilization or that use coded terms such as “conception.”

Example:

Many policies that restrict abortion care can also result in major changes to contraceptive access or in vitro fertilization (IVF). It helps readers when you point out these connections in your coverage. 

It is important to note that legislation or court rulings that restrict medical care in the embryonic stage affect some contraception and IVF methods — but they do not restrict abortion, because the person is not yet pregnant. Restrictions set in the fetal stage, once pregnancy has medically begun, restrict abortion. 

Recommendations

If the regulation applies from the fertilization stage through birth, it would have an impact on contraception, IVF and abortion. In these situations, it would be most accurate to report that these types of restrictions ban the most common methods of contraception and IVF, as well as abortion.

Example:

When editors are managing multiple reproductive health stories, or inserting links to related stories, there is a risk of furthering a false conflation of abortion and contraception.

In the example on this page, two news stories emerged back to back: one concerning the availability of medication abortion pills via prescription at a pharmacy, and the other concerning the availability of non-prescription birth control pills at pharmacies. When headline editors linked to a related story, the headline content — while technically correct — inadvertently suggested a conflation of abortion and contraception.

Recommendations

Avoid or be cautious when embedding an abortion-related link in a contraceptive story, especially in the headline.

Example:

Also see ACOG’s dictionary here.

Abortifacient ⚠️(medical term; often mis-used)

Any substance used to terminate a pregnancy. 

“Abortifacient contraception” ⚠️ (non-medical term; not neutral)

A disinformation term coined by anti-abortion leaders to falsely claim that some contraceptives end an existing pregnancy. This term has no medical meaning and should not be used.

Abortion ✅(medically accurate term; neutral term) 

Abortion means ending a pregnancy. There are two main options: an abortion procedure (also called in-clinic abortion) and the abortion pill (also called medication abortion). Both are safe and effective. 

Conception ⚠️ (not neutral)

Medically, conception occurs at implantation, which is the start of pregnancy. However, the term “conception” is understood differently among various groups — some organizations, such as the Catholic Church, use the term to indicate fertilization. Even among trusted medical sites, conception can be defined differently. 

Groups that oppose abortion and contraception have embraced this term as a synonym for “fertilization,” and its use can be a dog whistle for an anti-contraception agenda.

Avoid this term due to public confusion about its meaning and its partisan signaling; if used, it should be clearly defined and sourced in the copy to reduce confusion.  

Contraception ✅(medically accurate term; neutral term)

Birth control and contraception are synonymous, though contraception can often be used for a purpose other than preventing pregnancy, such as treating menstrual pain, acne or other conditions. These terms refer to devices, medicines or procedures used to prevent pregnancies, with the beginning of pregnancy defined as implantation. Pregnancy cannot be detected until after implantation, when the body begins to produce pregnancy hormones. While contraception prevents pregnancy, it cannot end a pregnancy.

Embryo ✅(medically accurate term; neutral term)

The stage of development that starts at fertilization (joining of an egg and sperm).

Emergency contraception pills ⚠️(medical term often misused)

There are two different types of emergency contraceptive pills (levonorgestrel, commonly referred to as Plan B, and Ulipristal acetate). They are both designed to prevent ovulation after unprotected sex. Their primary mechanism is to prevent or delay an egg leaving the ovary, thus preventing fertilization. In spite of the FDA’s updated labeling that clarifies it does not prevent implantation, some inaccurately claim that emergency contraception may also prevent fertilization or implantation. Note: Certain intrauterine devices (IUDs) can also be used for emergency contraception. Emergency contraception (pills and IUDs) cannot terminate a pregnancy that has already begun. 

Fertilization ⚠️(medical term often misused)

When a sperm and an egg fuse, this is called fertilization, which creates an embryo. While this is an essential step towards pregnancy, this is NOT when pregnancy medically begins. For example, an egg fertilized in a petri dish cannot become a pregnancy until that fertilized egg is successfully implanted in the uterus. In the absence of contraceptive use, only about 50% of fertilized embryos will successfully implant.

Fetus ✅(medically accurate term; neutral term)

The stage of human development beyond eight completed weeks after fertilization. This is the stage after pregnancy has begun. Medically, the beginning of pregnancy is called implantation. 

Hormonal Contraception ✅(medically accurate term; neutral term)

Hormonal contraception methods contain hormones that prevent pregnancy. These hormones prevent the body from releasing an egg each month. Methods include birth control pills, skin patches, vaginal rings, the implant and an intrauterine device (IUD). While the primary mechanism is to prevent fertilization, some hormonal methods have the potential to also prevent implantation.

Implantation ✅(medically accurate term; neutral term)

The process wherein the fertilized egg implants in the uterine lining, and pregnancy medically begins. When a fertilized egg implants, the body begins to create pregnancy hormones to support the uterine lining. This is the hormone that is detected in a pregnancy test. Note: Prior to this phase, a pregnancy test will not work.

Life or “when life begins” ⚠️ (non-medical term; not neutral)

This term should not be used to reference when pregnancy begins. Opponents of abortion and contraception frequently use the phrase “when life begins” in a way that can add confusion to medical and legal discussions about pregnancy. This term is often used in “personhood” legislation (see “Personhood” definition, below). Given the lack of public consensus on the meaning of the term “life” or “when life begins,” this terminology can spur confusion and misinformation in media reporting or polling.

Medication abortion ✅ (medically accurate term; neutral term)

This term refers to the FDA-approved regimen in which a person takes two distinct oral drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol, to terminate a pregnancy. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), these drugs can be safely used up to the first 70 days (10 weeks) of pregnancy. Avoid the term “chemical abortion” as it is often used in a political context and used by anti-abortion outlets.

“Personhood” ⚠️ (non-medical term; not neutral)

Anti-abortion leaders use the concept of personhood to extend the legal rights of a person prior to birth. Many “personhood” proponents use the 14th Amendment as the constitutional basis for this standard.

There are two types of “personhood” proposals: “fetal personhood,” which applies to a fetus in the womb, and “embryo personhood,” which applies to the pre-pregnancy embryo stage. Personhood statutes threaten access to contraception, IVF and abortion.  

​​“Pre-implantation chemical abortion” ⚠️ (non-medical term; not neutral)

A disinformation term coined by anti-contraception advocates with no medical meaning. Any device or substance that prevents implantation is contraception. In this misdefinition, “chemical abortion” is being used as a substitute for “contraception.” This term should not be used.

Pregnancy ✅(medically accurate term; neutral term)

The gestational stage medically begins at implantation, during which a person carries a growing fetus in their uterus. Note: Many health care providers date a pregnancy from the time that a pregnant person has had their last menstrual period, for the purpose of calculating a due date. However, this is not the same as when pregnancy has medically begun.

The Pregnancy Process ✅(medically accurate term; neutral term)

Refers to the entire process of becoming and being pregnant. This is distinct from the specific gestational stage of when a pregnancy medically begins, detailed above. 

​​“Restorative Reproductive Medicine” ⚠️ (non-medical term; not neutral).

This is a political term used in some legislative proposals that refers to non-IVF fertility approaches. It uses Catholic-affiliated fertility programs and is not a substitute for IVF.

“Unborn human being” ⚠️ (non-medical term; not neutral)

Do not use. This is not a medical phrase. This phrase is used by groups and policymakers that oppose abortion and contraception to advance “fetal personhood”-style legislation that would ban most forms of contraception and IVF. 

Contraception myths

  • Challenging Myths (∽3 min. video) Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley, CEO of Power to Decide and chief medical advisor for the Contraceptive Access Initiative, talks through common myths and misperceptions that can lead to restricting access to contraception. 

  • Fighting disinformation about pregnancy and contraception (∽3 min video) Dr. Raegan sheds light on how FDA-approved contraceptives prevent pregnancy.

Contraception facts

Access to contraception

Polling & Message Research

Opposition to contraception

Mis- and Disinformation about contraception in the media

Additional Resources

This Stylebook and Coverage Guide was created by the nonprofit Contraceptive Access Initiative (CAI), in collaboration with Power to Decide, to support reporters and editors covering contraception, pregnancy and IVF.

For more information or to be connected to a medical expert, contact Loretta@caminopr.com

Contraceptive Access.org

PowertoDecide.org