Contraceptives

In recently posting a link to a supplier of vegan condoms I realized that while more and more vegetarian delights are being added to our supermarket shelves, there is a limited choice of birth control options for vegans if using a low dose birth control pill does not sit comfortably with you.

I doubt if non vegans or most women for that matter, hold an image of laboratory animals undergoing tests for synthetic hormones as they pop their daily low dose birth control pill or other meds. The use of lactose (milk sugar) as a filler in many low dose birth control pills and casein in latex condoms takes those off the birth control option list for vegans too.

If you are a vegan, I personally don’t believe that it is being hypocritical to decide for yourself (and discuss with your partner) whether the pros outweigh the cons. when it comes to planning your ‘contraception career’ and making some informed, considered concessions. You go about your daily life in a non vegan world selecting, to the best of your ability, the food, clothing, medications, creams, lotions and potions that support your lifestyle and preferences. When it comes to birth control, each of us has to be practical, comfortable with our choices yet at the same time realistic about the risks associated with each type while working within our own personal limits. Thankfully the web has made it easier to research and find suppliers of vegan products, including contraceptives however, the options are more limited than for non vegans.  Here’s a quick overview of birth control options and a handy link to a relaible online supplier of products:

Birth Control Options to Consider if you are a Vegan

Non Hormonal birth control types

• not having intercourse during your fertile period- assuming you have an understanding partner, be extra vigilant in taking your temperature each day to judge this time in your cycle (research sites for ‘natural birth control’)
• using vegan condoms made with without milk protein (casein) such as Sir Richards and Glyde (when you get to the site click on NATURAL products in the LH sidebar to see all vegan items)
• using a copper IUD such as Paragard (not Mirena which releases hormones)

Birth control types which contain Hormones

• Depo Provera shot - contains only one type of -progestin hormone but it decreases estrogen levels so concerns over long term use affecting bone density should be taken seriously (stop the shots after 2 years). Allow several months after stopping the shots if you want to get pregnant as fertility does not return immediately. Progesterone also stimulates appetite so some women do gain weight with this type of birth control - keep up the exercise!
• NuvaRing does not contain latex which is why some vegans use it BUT it does release 0.015 mg/day of ethinyl estradiol over a three-week period of use and also contains a synthetic progestin, making it a combination hormonal type of low dose birth control and I wonder if it is also one that has been developed as result of these hormones being tested on animals at some stage

WARNINGS

• Ortho Evra contraceptive patch is free from animal based ingredients but I do not recommend this as it NOT a low dose birth control method due to its high estrogen dosage
• ‘Yes’ water based lube is vegan but not the oil based variety which contains a touch of beeswax
• be very wary of the ‘pull out and pray’ method of birth control - withdrawal by your partner just prior to ejaculation is very risky
• use herbal birth control at your own risk - there are sites devoted to this topic but please do your research thoroughly as I am not aware of any proven, reliable herbal form of birth control

Several brands of low dose birth control pills are reviewed on this site, including Yaz and Yasmin, which along with Beyaz/Safyral are currently in the news because of a fear that a particular hormone they contain, drospirenone, increases the risk of blood clots. I am waiting for the outcome of the latest study by the FDA on 800,000 women as to the effects of drospirenone on blood clotting and will adjust or remove the Yaz information accordingly. The results of the study are due later this Summer, in the meantime I encourage those of you who are ‘happy’ with this low dose birth control pill to watch out for possible symptoms of blood clots such as chest pain or leg pain or talk to your doctor about using an alternative form of low dose birth control.

Estrogen in low dose birth control pills is the ingredient that is thought to make blood more likely to clot. As drospirenone is a type of progestin, not a type of estrogen, and in Yaz 3mg of it are combined with 30mcg of ethinyl estradiol (estrogen), it will be interesting to see what the study reveals about this cocktail- I’ll leave you to make the leap I did.

Yaz has its followers due its success in reducing the common side effects of other low dose birth control pills and in reducing acne. However, the manufacturer Bayer, is reputed to be facing several thousands of lawsuits. Lawsiuts are brought for a wide range of reasons (some marketing, some medical) so don’t jump to wild conclusions here, get as much information about the details as you can.

What increases the risk of blood clots forming? It is the estrogen in low dose birth control pills and other forms of hormonal contraception containing estrogen (also HRT) that is thought to make blood more likely to clot, this is called hypercoagulability. Estrogen itself doesn’t form a blood clot.

Progesterone/Progestin only forms of birth control such as the ‘mini pill’, Depo Provera shot, Implanon and Mirena are ’safer’ to use from this aspect and would certainly be a better choice for women over 35, who smoke, who are overweight or who are breast feeding. Reminders for the mini pill -

• progestin only pills MUST be taken at the same time every day to give maximum protection
• for the first month of usage, a condom must also be used, as with other BC pills
• even being 3 hrs late in taking your mini pill means you should use a condom for the rest of that cycle (not 48hrs only )
• while you may take 2 mini -pills in one day, you can’t take 2 mini - pills the next day to make up for the missed one as you can with a combined birth contol pill

Combined low dose birth control pills prevent most women from ovulating whereas progestin only birth control types act mainly to thicken cervical mucus and change the uterus lining to prevent pregnancy- about 50% of women also stop ovulating on progestin only contraception.

To highlight vegan condoms again I recommend this site below as they seem to keep abreast of the latest products, offer value bonuses and have a good selection of other items.

Undercover Condoms Deal of the Month: Buy 1 12 Pack of Sir Richard’s Condoms, Get 1 FREE.

If you are not planning to welcome a new little soul into your arms anytime soon, you may wish to join the growing number of women who are forsaking their low dose birth contol pill in favor of a long acting, reversible contraceptive (LARC ) such as an IUD or an implant. A recent bulletin by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists show that today’s much improved IUDs and implants are the most effective forms of reversible contraception.

IUDs are now considered suitable for the majority of women, including adolescents, women who have had a miscarriage or an abortion, women who have had ectopic pregnancies and also women who have never had any children. HERE is an earlier post with details and a video of a copper IUD insertion.

My earlier post is HERE if you want details of implants but today’s post is just to bring you up to date with the latest increase in popularity of these two low maintenance LARCs.

“IUDs and implants should be considered first-line contraceptives for a majority of women,” says Eve Espey, MD, MPH, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Espey also says that available evidence suggests that IUDs do not cause PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) which prevented many doctors recommending them to women who had not had children.

“The majority of unintended pregnancies among contraceptive users occur because of inconsistent or incorrect contraceptive use, and this is where implants and IUDs stand out from the pack. They are maintenance-free, which means there is virtually no margin of error,” she says.

Implanted, contraceptive ’rods’ were approved in 2006. You do need to go to a doctor to have the implant inserted just underneath the skin on the inside of one arm and protection against pregnancy usually lasts for 3 yrs. Yes, you can feel it if you press on the insertion site as seen here http://youtu.be/4TNEtyu1WUU but the idea is to forget about it once it’s in so don’t worry that it’s going to catch on your clothes! These two videos show insertion and removal if you’re interested in the procedure.

INSERTION

REMOVAL- don’t worry about the foreigh language on this video, the procedure is clearly shown.

An IUD can provide 5-10 yrs of protection depending on the type. Paragard is a copper IUD and will protect you for up to10 yrs, while Mirena is a hormonal IUD releasing progestin and will protect you for up to 5 yrs. IUDs also need to be inserted by a doctor.Warning: Neither of these contraceptives will protect you from STIs so condoms come into their own as rescue special ops! Your doctor may or may not offer these two options. Implants and IUDs should not be used if you have been diagnosed with any form of PID, reproductive cancer or Wilson’s disease (too much copper in your body).   If you are a vegetarian did you know that you can buy Vegan/Organic Condoms on this site (search for Sir Richards brand) Undercover Condoms Sales - Click here to view this month’s sale items including Condoms, Lubricants, and more!!Downsides in brief:

• irregular menstrual bleeding, possible acne and weight gain in a few women (no different to other forms of hormonal birth control) and sometimes temporary cramping following an IUD insertion which usually diminishes after a while
• very rarely (1 in 1,000) an IUD pushes through the wall of the uterus and has to be removed
• the contraceptive skin implant may cause a mild insulin resistance in some women 
• initial high cost of several hundred dollars for each type but when averaged out over several years, the monthly cost compares favorably to the cost of a low dose birth control pill

Today, on the advice of my daughter, I am taking a slight detour from a focus on low dose birth control - to vaginas.  As part of the ongoing research I carry out for the latest birth control information, I visit women’s forums where I see women sharing their experiences of the many common problems we goddesses have with our vaginas. Often suffering in silence before a chronic condition  forces a visit to the doctor, young women and women in varying stages of menopause, are embarassed, anxious and distressed by their vaginal problems.  Identifying vaginal discharges comes close to the top of the list (” is this discharge normal?”) but discomfort during sex, tearing and vaginal tissue in a fragile state are the ‘hushed’ topics obviously still wreaking havoc with couples sex lives and emotional states. 

Our faithful and long serving vaginas deserve as much TLC as our faces do.  If you don’t relish a dry, medical tome for your bedtime read and prefer to give yourself a bit of  an ‘at home’ self check before going to the doctor, my little instant reference book will be an indispensable addition to your bathroom cabinet.

Tossing medicalese language out the window and addressing ONE issue per page, I have put together a little 64 page, light hearted self help guide for $11.95 called “Happy Vaginas for the Over 40s…how to resuscitate your aging asset and protect her from menopausal meltdown!”   (my pen name is Claire Preston) While the vaginal issues are no fun, the easy to read symptom lists, tips and remedies will quickly help you to clear up a problem yourself or give you the confidence to talk to someone about it. There’s even a few sensuous music titles included for those of you who fancy a flirt in your nightie with a hot chocolate!

Feedback: After a thorough ‘pulling to bits’ reading session, my daughter’s friends said that I should not have put “Over 40s” in the title as they said the problems I covered were common to women of all ages and some young women could miss out! The B/W cartoons were done to keep the cost down. Overall, they loved it and would you believe that I have sold as many books to MEN as to women, I didn’t see that one coming? If you do buy a copy I would love to have some feedback- you never know Claire Preston may have another little book in her.

“CatSper “ and nanoparticles could be the vital link in the development of a new contraceptive gel or birth control pill - for women AND MEN.

What is CatSper? CatSper, discovered and named by David Clapham, a researcher at the Boston Children’s Hospital, is the key element in sperm that influences its swimming capacity.  Researchers in Germany and the US have discovered that progesterone around an egg seems to activate ‘CatSper’ or in other words, turbocharge sperm to give them that extra little swimming boost once they get close to an egg. With their ‘motor’ severely disabled, the sperm would lose the energy to make that last minute dash to the finishing line.

 With the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funding David’s research team, there is an 18 month window to develop a prototype drug which will block CatSper (‘disable’ the little motor in the sperm’s tail so to speak) at the time of sexual activity. With the aid of nanotechnology, we could then see the birth of a completely NEW type of contraceptive.“Sperm are the only cells known to make CatSper, so such a drug is unlikely to have many side effects. It would also, presumably, work regardless of whether it is men or women who take it because it could act on sperm regardless of their location”, says Polina Lishko,  a reproductive biologist at the University of California, San Francisco.

What’s nanotechnology got to do with it? I’ll explain this as simply as I can. Nanoparticles would be used to carry the CatSper blocking‘drug’ to ‘bomb’ the sperm. The nanoparticles would also be coated with specific antibodies which are ‘sperm seeking’ so the drug would be released only on reaching the ‘target’ (the sperm) and would not be left in any mucus or on the wall of the vagina. “Twenty million of these missiles (sperm) are released at once, and you have to get all of them before they make it to the target (egg),” says Clapham….“(CatSper) It’s an anti-missile device that doesn’t cause any collateral damage.” 

If Clapham and his team successfully develop a blocking compound, a trial with animals is likely which could then lead to a new contraceptive gel or oral birth control pill for men or women. Hands up if you’d vote for the bombs to be dropped BEFORE the missiles leave the factory! To avoid or reduce the cocktail of synthetic hormones currently found in low dose birth control pills has to be a step in the right direction. As to the lack of ‘collateral damage’ anticipated with this new form of birth control, well, any synthetic/chemical substance which is absorbed into the body has the potential to cause side effects so let’s keep the jury out on this one until the proof is in the nano pudding.

References: Strünker, T. et al. Nature 471, 382-386 (2011).Lishko, P. V., Botchkina, I. L. & Kirichock, Y. Nature 471, 387-391 (2011).

With Easter celebrations almost upon us this is a gentle nudge to remind you to check your monthly supply of low dose birth control pills and to pop a couple of fresh condoms into your purse. I also want to focus on bringing a new book to your attention which could literally change your life and the way you view the most intimate part of your body. Ordinary women have been courageous enough to share their bodies in this exquisitely photographed collection - these are not air brushed models who have been selected for their touched up ’beautiful bits’.

This Easter consider giving your beloved a gift that will give you both a lot to talk about and hopefully take your appreciation of each other to a unique place.  Watch this short video about the book,  ‘Heart of the Flower’. 

Read what others say about ‘Heart of the Flower’:

“You have created something really special with this book. It is a spiritual experience every time I sit down and read/look at it. I feel blessed to have known of it when it is first released. Thanks for letting me be part of that. A book to pass down and around. Much love.” — Di”It’s funny because as someone who sees Yonis on a daily basis the images were not by any means a surprise or shock for me. Yet the different angles along with each lady’s words made me view them again from a totally different way. All in all I think this book should be the bible for all woman (especially younger women) to eradicate any fear or uncertainty, and almost more importantly for men.” — Natalie, 22, beauty therapist

“I’ve had 30 years of therapy, psychiatry and reading this book has been the most healing thing that could happen to me. I can’t tell you how it’s helped me and how important it’s been to me. It’s wonderful. Every woman should own a copy.” — Deb

“Is it possible to read the words of these women and look at their pictures not through a haze of tears? Beautiful. Brave. Stunning. Powerful. Wow — what a book.” — Ian, 44

Heart of the Flower: The book of yonis is an unflinching exploration of the beautiful diversity of women’s genitals, free of judgement, shame and embarrassment.

Fifty everyday women have posed for up-close and personal photographs that show their genitals from many different and rarely seen angles. Each woman writes candidly with wit, wisdom, passion, even despair, about her relationship with her yoni.

The book brings into light the ins and outs of the female sexual anatomy, and demystifies and challenges the way society views women’s genitals and sexuality.

Heart of the Flower is designed to normalise and celebrate diversity at a time when labial reconstructions have reached an all-time high and women’s body image is at an all-time low.

The book of yonis is 164 full colour pages, designed exquisitely and bound beautifully in a hardback cover. it is a beautiful gift or addition to your bookcase or coffee table, and the perfect way to celebrate the heart of the flower that is woman.

Celebrate Easter by celebrating your beautiful self. Enjoy.

Here are a few more myths about low dose birth control and a link to that extraordinary book I mentioned in the last post.

MYTH 6.  The Pill makes you infertile

No it doesn’t. It can take a few months before your body readjusts itself back to it’s own natural hormone levels but you may believe this myth if you are 30+ and have fewer eggs left which are of a less than ‘prime’ quality.  If you’ve always taken a low dose birth control pill, how do know if you have fertility problems without it?  A low dose birth control pill may actually help you to avoid fibroids, endometriosis and similar uterine conditions so may ‘preserve’ your fertility. 

MYTH 7.  The Pill causes cancer

Not necessarily.  Even a low does birth control pill offers some protection from ovarian cancer and endometriosis. Research shows that if you take a combination birth control pill (estrogen and progestin) you are at a higher risk of cervical cancer but no actual causal link has been found yet.  Please do not increase your risk of cervical cancer further by exposing yourself to the contributing factor, the human papilloma virus , by having unprotectd sex. There is also a slightly higher risk of breast cancer for women on the pill which diminishes after use and disappears altogether after 10 years. Cancer findings here.

MYTH 8.   It doesn’t matter what time you take your pill each day.  It does if you want to get the maximum protection and efficiency from it so ‘attach’ the pill taking time to a daily routine you already practise well.  MYTH 9.    All birth control pills are the same  Not true.  Low dose birth control pills may all have the same end result of preventing pregnancy but there are many different types, while the estrogen may be identical (ethinyl estradiol) the type of progestin could vary.   Within those, many different brands (including generic brands). Not all pills will suit YOUR body in the same way as your friend’s body so talking to a doctor or family planning professional is the best way to find a ‘match’ that suits your metabolism and medical history. 

NEW ‘must have’ BOOK - You’ll never see your vagina in the same light again

 Now for the link to that remarkable book I mentioned.  I have been waiting awhile to recommend this extraordinary work of art to you- and it is SO much more than that. At a time when women fall victim to media propaganda, when sadly, labiaplasty is growing in popularity and  young girls’  body image is at an all time low, this beautiful book of 164 full colour photographs celibrates and honours the uniqueness and true beauty of every women’s genitals.

Heart of the Flower: The book of yonis is an unflinching exploration of the beautiful diversity of women’s genitals, free of judgement, shame and embarrassment.

To watch a short video about Heart of the Flower book before buying, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PztE75RNKbQ

It’s a while since I posted information about a couple of myths associated with low dose birth control  so I thought it would be useful to add a couple more posts on the more common ones :

MYTH 3.  The Pill works because it kills sperm

No, a low dose bith control pill causes several changes in the body but the main changes:

a) prevent an egg from being released from an ovary so that it cannot be fertilised

b) thicken the mucus at the neck of the uterus which ’slows down’ the sperm and makes it harder for him to reach the uterus

c) thin the tissue which lines the wall of the uterus to make implantation of a fertilised egg difficult

MYTH 4.  It doesn’t matter if I miss a pill at the end of my pack because I’m going to get my period anyway

Yes it does matter. To prevent ovulation from happening, a pack of low dose birth control pills releases a measured dosage of estrogen/progestin which your body absorbs each month. Pills you may have missed just before the ‘dummy pill’ days or at the beginning of the next pack, will extend the hormone free period so your body may not have absorbed a sufficient monthly dose of hormones to prevent ovulation in the NEXT month.

MYTH 5. The Pill makes you fat

Not necessarily. Some women lose weight. on the pill. 60% of women see little change (+/- 2 kgs.) While estrogen can cause fluid retention which accounts for some increase in weight, there are some women whose unique metabolism reacts to even low dose birth control pills, causing them to gain more than 2 kilos. *A change of pill type may be the answer. Most women increase their weight in the latter half of their cycle due anyway, due to a change in hormone levels.

Check before you blame your low dose birth control pill for your weight gain, unless you feel that your appetite has increased significantly, that other meds are not the culprit and that your anxiety over the issue is causing you to ’snack’ more! *Use the lowest possible estrogen containing birth control pill - this should minimize weight gain and swelling from water retention. Two of the current 20 mcgm pills which are the lowest estrogen doses available are: Alesse and Mircette.

Further information about this popular myth

Tomorrow - a few more myths about low dose birth control - come back and test your contraception knowledge.  Also, I have a new book to show you which may not be to everyone’s taste but is REMARKABLE!

Pill taking routines can accidentally veer off course at this time of year so these guidelines might come in handy if you need to change the scheduling of your low dose birth control regime :

If you take progestin only pills (the mini pill) and fail to take your pill by 3 hours later than normal, it’s effectiveness will be decreased so use backup (barrier method) for at least 48 hours while your new pill taking timetable is being established.

If you take combination birth control pills (estrogen and progestin) you have a little more leeway within which to change your timing schedule:

• if you want to take your pill earlier than normal, you can safely start at any time during the pack
• if you want to take your pill later than normal, make sure it’s not more than 12 hours later - leaving it longer than 12 hours reduces the effectiveness so to be safe use back up for at least 7 days while you establish your new routine

If you’ve missed pills over Christmas or gone for more than 36 hours between 2 of your low dose birth control pills it’s a good idea to use backup for 7 days until you’re back on track again.

Let your loved ones know how much they mean to you this holiday season, spread some kindness, stretch some tolerance and share your abundance.

Thank you for reading my posts, I hope you have found a few useful little ‘nuggets’ in them.

I wish you a memorable and safe Christmas and a fulfilling 2011,

Kindest regards Carole

Have you ever wondered if any chemical residues (synthetic estrogen and progestin) from the millions of low  dose birth control pills consumed, ever get into our drinking water or into the oceans and possibly harm the fish?

Where does almost 90% of the total estrogen in the environment come from? Can pesticides mimic estrogen and add to the pollution of water supplies?

More importantly- can most of the pollutants, including estrogen be removed? I recently found a synopsis from the mission of Environmental Health News on this issue which I felt was worth passing on.

The mission of Environmental Health News is to advance the public’s understanding of environmental health issues by publishing its own journalism and providing access to worldwide news about a variety of subjects related to the health of humans, wildlife and ecosystems.

Towards that end, journalists write and publish articles on the EHN site. These stories are provided to newspapers and other media through EHN’s news service. These articles meet high journalistic standards of non-advocacy, and the content is under the control of the Editor in Chief.  EHN also offers timely, daily access to the hundreds of other articles on environmental health topics that are published each day in the world press, and its searchable archives date back to 2002. EHN does not accept funding from interest groups.