Reproductive Health

Did a graphic including a short-haired person, labeled "Your body during pregnancy" appear in an official King's College Hospital NHS poster in the UK, as social media posts claim? No, that's not true: A spokesperson for the King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust told Lead Stories the poster was not produced by the trust nor displayed at its hospitals. The…

Does the German government publish a sexual education website that includes a cartoon panel saying "Most German men will be happy to have gay sex with immigrants"? No, that's not true: The phrase doesn't appear on the German sex education site. The version circulating on X.com is a doctored version of an infographic used in multiple countries. The panel appearing…

Did President Donald Trump confuse research on transgenic mice with research involving "making mice transgender," when addressing Congress, as some social media users suggested? No, that's not true: On March 5, 2025, the White House issued a press release outlining the research the President was referring to. The listed studies were about the effects of certain medical interventions on mice…

Is Joe Rogan correct that Girl Scout cookies are "toxic as fuck"? Here is what we know about the situation: Podcast host Rogan said on his program that a study of Girl Scout cookies shows they have high levels of glyphosate and heavy metals. The Girl Scouts organization published a statement declaring their cookies are safe to consume, and heavy…

Did the U.S. government spend or plan to spend $50 million exclusively on condoms in Gaza? No, that's not true: There's no evidence that the U.S. government intended to spend that much money just on condoms for the small territory. U.S. aid to Gaza is focused on humanitarian needs like food, medical supplies and other essential help. The U.S. State…

Will House Resolution 7 force women to get permission from their husbands, fathers or priests to use birth control or have an abortion? No, that's not true: The legislation wouldn't require women to get anyone's consent for reproductive health care. Also, House resolutions aren't real laws; they only show what the House thinks collectively about a specific issue, person or…

Does taking bee pollen increase breast size? No, that's not true: Bee pollen has not been shown in medical research to increase breast growth, a medical expert told Lead Stories. There are no "well-established" uses for bee pollen, a medical school reported. The claim appeared in a post on Facebook on May 17, 2024. It began: I was forced to…

If preteen and teenage girls use laptop computers on their laps, will it increase their risk of miscarriages later in life? No, that's not true: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told Lead Stories, "The claims in the video are inaccurate." There's no scientific evidence to support the allegations; miscarriages are typically caused by factors like genetic abnormalities, hormonal…

Should everyone routinely take dewormer medication, as a post on X suggested? No, that's not true: In certain parts of the world, the World Health Organization recommends periodically giving deworming medication to preschoolers, school-age children, women of reproductive age and those working in high-risk professions. These recommendations are specific to certain regions, primarily sub-Saharan Africa, China, South America and Asia.…

Did Amy Schumer say she developed "vaccine acquired immune deficiency syndrome" (VAIDS) as a result of COVID-19 vaccination? No, that's not true: Schumer said on her Instagram account that she has endometriosis, a disease that causes tissue similar to the lining of the uterus to grow outside the uterus. VAIDS is not a recognized medical condition related to COVID-19 vaccination…