Looking for #womenshealth information on Instagram? 4 out of 10 posts are ads

An analysis of 472 Instagram posts under the #womenshealth hashtag reveals that over two-thirds (69%) contain explicit health claims, but only 7% provide references to scientific evidence. Out of these posts, 39% directly sell products or services, and 51% of account holders have a financial interest in the content. Approximately half of the individual influencers are alternative health professionals, while 35% are qualified medical doctors.

The majority of posts (63%) are created by individuals, with hormonal and reproductive health being the most common topic, accounting for almost half of all posts. These findings suggest that while social media can be beneficial for women seeking health information and support, the prevalence of commercial interests and lack of scientific evidence in the content raises concerns about the reliability and accuracy of the information being shared.