vegan contraception

[Rochellita]

yep, persona does uses traces of gelatine in it's testers, I am aware of that and deliberated long and hard before I made the choice. For me it's a choice of the Pill, which I don't want to use for helath reasons, a shot which I don't want to use for both health reasons and that Pfizer is a big vivisector. As far as I know Unipath, who produce persona don't conduct animal tests, though, as with practically all products they probably used vivisection at some point in the testing process.

I could use an IUD but they scare the hell out me and the idea of having a copper coil in my body for the rest of my reproductive life does not sound like a comfortbale option. Joni (my partner) could get a vasectomy, but that's his issue, not mine.

So it's the thing I compromise on- a trace of gelatine in the tester sticks, I can live with that when I compare the cons of all the other options. That's my choice, I'm not dissing anyone for using the Pill or Depo or whatever. They are just not routes I'd take.

[Mary]

The pill has lactose in it as a filler, so it isn't a vegan product. If I was in Rochelles shoes I would probably use do exactly the same thing. I have had the coil in the past, and my periods became incredibly painful. And the coil has health risks too (it can carry infection further into the womb than it would otherwise go, and increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy.) I think Persona (sensibly used) is a good choice.

[Star_Me_Kitten]

Rochelle, i wasn't criticising your choice. i just wanted to mention it in case anyone didn't know. the risk with Persona is too high for me personally, and my hormones are very unreliable so i'm not sure it would work with me. i'm trying herbal remedies, but they're not helping much.

[assilembob]

I have the worst luck, see those shots make my monthly heavy and painful (opposite what it's supposed to do and not different than why I went on BC in the first place)
I can not go without it, not for fear of having kids as I am most likely unable...steroids as a child for allergic reaction to amoxicillan...but because I will get really sick from blood loss and such.
I can't worry about it being vegan, because I have no alternative. I was hoping someone on here knows more than I do about this stuff as I want to try and find a "pill" type that keeps daily hormones in me and all that may be animal friendly.
~Mel

[Mary]

When I had a coil in my periods got heavier and more painful, and the doctor said I could try a hormone painted coil instead, that might reduce the period. I did ask was it vegan, and he checked (with a really strained expression on his face) and said that yes, it was. "No-one ever asked me that before," he muttered while going through his drugs bible (or whatever it was.)

In the end I didn't have it put in (after they took the old one out I kind of froze up, and they couldn't get anything in), but I have heard that if you get the right one it can reduce periods, as the hormone acts directly on the womb.

Another thing I have heard of is d&c (dilation and curretage) - sounds a bit drastic I know, but my mum had it done for very heavy periods (she used to pass out from blood loss, and I remember her going blueish on the lips one time) and this one helped. If you are that bad I would consider that.

[Maija]

I think few years ago a vegan pill Yasmin(e) came to market. For me(and my husband hormonal contraception is like a gift from Goddess, cause I have a terrible PMS . Yeah, I'm gonna find out more about that Yasmin-pill, it was said to be low-hormone and suitable for vegans. I have recently stopped breast-feeding and now it's ok to go on the pill.

Personally I defend very strongly my human right to reproduce. We have decided to have two biological children(if lucky and then adopt if we want more. I live in the area where are many big families for religious reasons, although they are luckily a minority, but still. So I can somehow relate to what Crystal said about those mothers of ten kids, they look like they were in their 80's in their 50's..Being pregnant and breastfeeding is quite a hard work, and those poor women are doing one or other all the time..

But I am also happy that many couples are deciding not to have kids, like if you're not having any then I can have two

Please do remember that adopting is an expensive and long process, and therefore can hardly become a substitute for " the old way". Thinking about the situation(HIV, teen-pregnancies, illegal abortions, religious reasons not no use condom, old beliefs)in third world countries and some others makes me feel totally powerless and frustrated yet I know it's not my job to find an answer for this problem. I rest my case before I get really upset..

[Mary]

Don't get upset. You are a good mum, which is the best thing you can be for your child, and any others you have (biological or adopted.) Love to the baby anyway. Glad I am not the only vegan mum on the board.

[kls]

um, anyone a diaphragm user? not sure if spermicide is vegan (haven't had boyfriend since going V, so no real occaision to find out) but i was quite pleased my choice at the time
right there with many of you on nonticking biological clock... and Crystal, i totally relate to your despair. in my area, my sister, me and a girl at the gym seem to be the only females in the county without the requisite 3 children...

[Quizeen]

um, anyone a diaphragm user?

I used to use a diaphgram (when I first met my now-husband). On the surface they might seem like a good choice, but they carry with them a high risk of ectopic pregnancy (tubal). I was unaware of that at the time, but was soon schooled when I had to have a tubal pregnancy removed. The procedure was much more invasive than I had thought, and I was out of commission completely for two weeks, barely able to walk, weak, and generally very ill. Once that's happened, it isn't possible to use a diaphragm anymore (not that you'd want to). Also, I don't believe that the spermicides available in the U.S. are vegan, and at the risk of being a bit yuck-o, diaphragms are often a bit, hem, "difficult" to remove.

I recently got off of the Pill and my husband and I have begun to use polyurethane condoms. Not so bad really. Unfortunately, Condomi brand is no longer available in the U.S. or I'd give them a try.

[kls]

thank you for the info--i did not know that diaphragm use carried such a high risk for ectopic pregnancy...
any idea what vegan contraception IS available in the U.S.? i'm not into introducing hormones to by body (besides my own) in either pill or shot form. most condoms i have now learned are not vegan. not into the IUD thing. options are drying up fast here not trying to be nosy, but i'm gonna put the questions out there and feel free to answer or not--what brand do you use? are they vegan? what is the difference b/w polyu and latex in terms of protection?
these aren't exactly pressing issues for me right now, but it would be nice to have a game plan in mind...
does heytaung do/know acupuncture (or acupressure) maybe there are some good acupoints for this issue!

[Quizeen]

Kis, there really aren't any truly vegan forms of contraception available in the U.S. right now (barring abstinence and the charting methods), so for myself, I've opted to go the least harmful route for my own health, e.g. no hormones.

At the risk of being too risque here's my take on the condom issue. For us latex was fine, but it dulled too much sensation. The polyurethane variety (made by Trojan) allows for much more sensation (including body heat), but it isn't as stretchable as the latex and apparently isn't as safe in regard to STD transmission. But, if you're in a stable monogamous relationship and STD-free that might not be such a big issue for you. As far as pregnancy prevention rates, I believe that the polyurethane and latex condoms are the same. Also, the polyurethane variety is good for people who have latex issues, and they don't come with spermacide, which is often problematic for people. All in all, the polyurethane variety have made an otherwise ill-favored method of contraception pretty bearable.

[kls]

thank you for the input not sure yet what i might do, but i certainly appreciate the information!

[Chris]

What exactly is not vegan about condoms and other forms of birth control? I must say this is news to me, I haven't really given this much thought. Interesting. Is it really possible to be 100% vegan in all areas of life. There's bound to be traces of animal products here and there.

[JP]

What exactly is not vegan about condoms and other forms of birth control? I must say this is news to me, I haven't really given this much thought. Interesting. Is it really possible to be 100% vegan in all areas of life. There's bound to be traces of animal products here and there.

you are right about animal traces & animal use being everywhere, thats how integrated our society is into animal abuse. regarding condoms, some condom brands use milk proteins in the lubricant or something like that. Personally i would buy vegan condom brand, but if i was in a pickle, i'd have no problems using a non vegan one either.

In uk we have a mainstream brand called Condomi which even carries vegan society symbol - which is great because i'd guess 99.9% of their customer base is just regular non-vegan people and they see this vegan symbol on the side of the packet

[Quizeen]

Chris, JP said it all about condoms. Unfortunately, Condomi is no longer available in the U.S.

All other forms of hormonal birth control have been tested on and/or contain a variety of animal products, usually lactose and other milk derivavtives as carries to make tablets.

When it comes to BC, though, I think at this stage in the game it's more important to use what works best for you. For a lot of women, myself included, hormones just ain't it.