Young women in Denmark increasingly reject birth control pills over side effect concerns
Use of birth control pills among Danish women aged 18–24 has dropped by 48 percent over the past decade, according to data from the Danish Health Data Authority, as reported by DR Trekantområdet. Fewer than 73,000 young women in that age group now use the pill, with many citing fears of serious side effects.
Anna Bjelke Pedersen, a 21-year-old student at Engelsholm Folk High School, said she has never used birth control pills and has no plans to start. “There are just too many side effects,” she told DR. “The risk of blood clots is terrifying. I know people who’ve had clots and others who became depressed—it’s not worth it.”
Her concerns extend to how hormonal contraception alters natural cycles. “I know people who stay on the pill continuously to skip periods,” Pedersen said. “That feels problematic—you’re completely changing your body’s hormone system. That can’t be healthy.”
Medical perspective: risks are low for most
Pernille Ravn, a professor and senior consultant in gynecology at Odense University Hospital, acknowledged that while side effects like depression—with a roughly 30 percent increased statistical risk—exist, the absolute risk remains minimal for most women.
“Without the pill, about 1 in 10,000 women aged 25 might develop a blood clot in a year. On the pill, that rises to 3 in 10,000,” Ravn explained. She emphasized that for the majority, the benefits, including highly effective pregnancy prevention and manageable periods, outweigh the risks. “Fertility returns to normal immediately after stopping the pill,” she added.
Mixed views among peers
Among Pedersen’s peers, opinions vary. Rasmine Birklund Nielsen, 19, avoids hormonal contraception entirely: “I don’t want to put synthetic hormones into my body. The pill contains two hormones—that’s intense, and it can ruin people’s quality of life.”
Asta MacLean Nyegaard, also 19, defended the pill’s role for some users: “For people with painful periods or other issues, it can be 100 percent the right choice. We shouldn’t dismiss it.”
At Sex & Samfund (Sex and Society), a Danish organization advising on sexual health, counselors report that young women frequently raise concerns about side effects—ranging from acne and weight gain to depression and cancer risks.
Despite declining use, Ravn stressed that the pill remains one of the safest contraceptive methods available. “The risk of pregnancy while on the pill is extremely low,” she said. “For those who tolerate it well, it’s a highly reliable option.”