You are listening to Seven Domains of Women's Health:

E104: The Intellectual Domain of Family Planning

Jan 30, 2026

For decades, contraception and family planning have been shaped by scientific discovery—but also by misinformation, flawed research, and cultural narratives that refuse to die. In recent years, social media has amplified debunked claims about hormones, attraction, and birth control, influencing how people think about family planning despite a lack of credible evidence.

In the intellectual domain of family planning, Kirtly Jones, MD, and Katie Ward, PhD, examine how we come to "know" what we believe about reproduction, contraception, and choice. Drawing on history, ethics, and Katie's own deep dive into evolutionary science, the conversation unpacks how research evolves, why bad science sometimes sticks, and how misinformation gains traction.

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Credits

Host: Kirtly Jones, MD, Katie Ward, PhD

Producer: Chloé Nguyen

Editor: Mitch Sears