Period, tampon and menopause among women’s health terms reportedly ‘shadow-banned’ on social media

MPs raise concerns after a new white paper revealed women’s health terms are reportedly flagged or suppressed online.

Samantha Niblett MP

Published: June 3, 2026 at 2:50 PM

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Conversations about periods, menopause, miscarriage and breastfeeding could be quietly restricted on social media, according to a new white paper shared in Parliament.

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The report, titled Censorship Revealed, claims that medically accurate content about women’s health is being suppressed, downranked or removed across major platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn and Google.

For women who rely on social media for advice, solidarity and expert insight, the findings raise important questions about how easy it is to access trusted health information online.

What does the report say?

The white paper, produced by CensHERship and The Case For Her, describes what it calls “a growing, deeply under-addressed crisis” in the digital treatment of women’s health content.

According to its executive summary, the report documents “the routine digital suppression and censorship of women’s health content on very large online platforms”.

Researchers say they carried out original research, first-hand accounts and formal complaints under the EU Digital Services Act. They claim that “medically accurate, non-sexual content about menstruation, menopause, fertility, postpartum care, and sexual wellbeing is systematically removed, restricted, or down-ranked, even when created by qualified experts”.

One headline finding states that 95% of women’s health creators surveyed in 2024 to 25 reported censorship on platforms including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Google, Amazon, YouTube, Pinterest and LinkedIn.

Everyday health terms reportedly affected

A House of Commons document shared by Samantha Niblett MP, during a parliamentary debate secured by Emily Darlington MP, lists common women’s health terms that are said to trigger so-called 'shadow-banning'.

These include:

The list also features anatomical terms such as vagina, vulva, cervix and clitoris.

Campaigners argue that while explicit or objectifying content can circulate widely, factual posts about how women’s bodies function may be incorrectly flagged under nudity or sexual content policies.

Case studies from health brands and educators

The report includes a series of case studies from businesses, charities and educators who say their content has been restricted.

One example details how an at-home fertility brand replaced the word “vagina” with “birth canal” in product descriptions to avoid Amazon bans.

Another case study claims that adverts for HPV screening were labelled as “adult content” and removed.

A breastfeeding support app is also cited. In one example, a post was reportedly removed for violating “adult sexual services” policies before later being reinstated.

The authors argue that these incidents point to inconsistencies in how moderation rules are applied, particularly when compared with ads for male sexual health products, which they say remain visible.

Why this matters for women

From first periods to postpartum recovery and perimenopause, many women now turn to social media for community-led advice and signposting to professional support.

When posts about miscarriage, endometriosis or breastfeeding are harder to find, it risks reinforcing stigma around topics that already carry shame for some women.

The report warns of economic consequences too, stating that startups report losing revenue and credibility due to blocked ads and suspended accounts.

For parents searching late at night about heavy bleeding, painful periods or feeding struggles, visibility can mean the difference between feeling isolated and feeling informed.

What are the recommendations?

In its recommendations, the report calls on platforms and their algorithms to treat medically accurate women’s health content as essential, not explicit.

It also urges policymakers to enforce gender sensitive digital regulations and ensure women’s health businesses have equal opportunities to operate online.

The authors conclude that when women’s health is silenced online, everyone loses, framing the issue as both a public health and economic concern.

As debate continues in Parliament, the spotlight is now on how social media companies define and moderate health content, and whether clearer, more transparent policies are needed to ensure mums and families can access the information they need.

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Authors

Ruairidh PritchardDigital Growth Lead

Ruairidh is the Digital Lead on MadeForMums. He works with a team of fantastically talented content creators and subject-matter experts on MadeForMums.

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