AITA for correcting misinformation my sister-in-law told my niece?

A family text chain lit up with good intentions, only to ignite a firestorm. A pharmacist, armed with facts and a bond with her 16-year-old niece, stepped in to debunk her sister-in-law’s wild claims about birth control—calling it a ticket to infertility and divine punishment. The niece, caught in the crossfire, just wanted responsible options, but the family’s reaction turned a health talk into a morality war. It’s a saga of truth clashing with dogma, set in a tight-knit family unraveling at the seams.

Picture a cozy suburban home, where whispered myths and shouted accusations collide. Readers will feel the pharmacist’s indignation and the niece’s confusion, wondering: when does correcting a lie cross a family line? This tale of health, trust, and slander promises a heated debate about parenting and honesty.

‘AITA for correcting misinformation my sister-in-law told my niece?’

So I (35 F) am very close with my niece (16 F). I am a pharmacist and earlier this week she texted me to ask if she can go to a pharmacy to get birth control pills in our state because she read online that it’s legal in some states.

I let her know it’s not an option here, but she should ask her mom to take her to the doctor to get a prescription and that I’m proud of her for being responsible. Thursday morning she told me she asked her mom, (40 F),

and she told her that birth control pills are only for whores who never want to get pregnant because it leaves a lot of women infertile. She told her that I’m infertile because of taking birth control since I was a teenager and that I slept with many different men because I thought it would be without consequence and it ruined my body.

My niece said she doesn’t want kids anyway, so she’s happy to take that risk and her mom told her she won’t help her get oral contraceptives as a minor and she should just keep her legs closed. I told my niece that’s not true at all. I’m infertile from 6 cycles of chemo and a month of radiation,

and it had nothing to do with me taking oral contraceptives. I told her that many fertility treatment plans actually use oral contraceptives to regulate a woman’s cycle and reduce cysts at the start of a cycle to help them conceive a baby with IVF.

She presented my sister in law with these facts to ask for the pills again, and my sister in law lost her mind. She told her that it doesn’t biologically make you infertile but God punishes promiscuous women with infertility if they abuse their bodies with hormones from a young age.

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She is telling everyone on that side of the family that I am undermining her parenting and promoting unsafe behavior, and she doesn’t want me in her children’s lives. My husband defended me and called her out for telling our niece hurtful things about me and said we respect her decision on this even though we don’t agree with it,

but she crossed a line by basically telling my niece that God punished me with infertility because I was supposedly promiscuous. Not that it matters but my husband is only the second person I’ve ever had s** with.

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The crazy thing is, that entire side of the family and even my own mother thinks I crossed the line and got involved in something I shouldn’t have when I told my niece that birth control won’t make her infertile and that her mother basically lied to her.

Am I the a**hole for telling my niece that her mother’s argument is ridiculous and giving her a reason to continue asking for the pills? Should I have just told her she needs to respect her mother’s decision and left it at that? My husband is the only one on my side on this in the entire family.

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This family feud’s hotter than a mislabeled prescription bottle. The pharmacist’s correction of her sister-in-law’s (SIL) false claim—that birth control causes infertility and is for “whores”—was a necessary dose of truth for her niece. The SIL’s slander, tying the pharmacist’s cancer-related infertility to promiscuity, is not just cruel but dangerously misleading. As Mayo Clinic states, oral contraceptives don’t cause infertility; they’re even used in IVF to aid conception, with 99% effectiveness when used correctly .

Dr. Jen Gunter, a women’s health expert, notes, “Misinformation about contraception can deter young women from safe choices, increasing unintended pregnancies” . A 2023 study found 25% of teens avoid contraception due to myths, per Guttmacher Institute. The SIL’s religious spin—claiming God punishes “promiscuous” women—escalates this into a broader issue: the harm of fear-based parenting. The pharmacist’s intervention was ethical, protecting her niece’s health and correcting a personal attack.

She should encourage her niece to consult a doctor, possibly via Planned Parenthood, for confidential care. A family meeting with a neutral mediator, as Family Therapy suggests, might calm tensions. The SIL’s lies crossed a line, and the pharmacist’s stand is justified.

Take a look at the comments from fellow users:

The Reddit crew charged in like a pharmacy rush, dishing out support and shade in equal measure. From praising the pharmacist’s expertise to slamming the SIL’s lies, their comments are a prescription for lively debate. Here’s the unfiltered scoop from the crowd:

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gm22169 − NTA. You’re a healthcare professional, and you provided information to a minor that was in line with good practice and evidence. Your SIL sounds horrendous.

DogsReadingBooks − NTA. Your sister lied about you, you just corrected those lies. Your niece is 16. She's old enough to know the facts on birth control.

BaconEggAndCheeseSPK − NTA. Your niece deserves correct information about contraceptives, and is lucky you are able to provide that. Your sister is a real piece of work.

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InfamousFail7 − NTA- your sister is basically the one 'promoting unsafe behavior'

trippiler − NTA she's angry you didn't enable her lies. Your niece is lucky to have someone who puts her first.

PeggyHW − Wow. NTA.. Can she see a doctor in her own right?

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Niraena − NTA. Your SIL should not be spewing hateful lies about you just to fuel her agenda. You’re a medical professional so you answered the questions of your niece accordingly. I get that she doesn’t want her kid to have s** but this isn’t the way to handle it.

[Reddit User] − NTA. Take that kid to planned parenthood and pay for the IUD before she becomes a teen mom (or she calls to ask about abortions). Also tell her she needs to use condoms for s**ual transmitted disease. If there are concerns that her partner isn't a good guy, have that talk separately

Tsarina-Mama − I was a virgin when I got married, and I still suffered from infertility. Wonder what SIL would say about that 🤷🏼‍♀️.

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Sekio-Vias − .... I used birth control to prevent period pain. I had 6 s** partners. I’m also Pagan. I’m currently listening to my 1 year old cry. Clearly that’s all bull s**t, and it’s one thing to parent.. another to lie about health. My mom lied to me about my options. And forced me to get an a**rtion from someone who had raped me.

I found out and I don’t talk to her. Lying to your kids about their bodies and health will only result in lack of trust. She can’t hide the truth forever.. NTA Side note she brought you into this, and basically slandered you. You had a right to say something in defense of yourself. How dare she say that about you.

These Redditors cheered the pharmacist’s truth-telling, urging her niece’s access to care while condemning the SIL’s slander. Some suggest practical steps like Planned Parenthood; others see the family’s reaction as a trust breaker. Do these hot takes fill the prescription, or just stir the pot?

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This story is a sharp reminder that truth can be a bitter pill in family ties. The pharmacist’s stand for her niece’s health and her own honor shines against a backdrop of misinformation and judgment. But with family lines drawn, what’s the cost of speaking out? What would you do if a loved one spread harmful myths about your life? Share your stories and insights below—let’s unpack this tangled family prescription together.

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