YES! But How? :: Green Birth Control

Is there such a thing as “green” birth control?

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by Ashlee Green

posted Feb 11, 2010

: Natural Family Planning is a method to keep track on the woman's fertile days.

Environmentally friendly contraception is easier than you might think.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, more than 30 percent of U.S. women use birth-control pills, making them the most common method of female contraception today.

Several studies have linked the estrogen that ends up in our sewage systems and bodies of water to sex changes in fish and frogs. One study showed that 80 percent of male smallmouth bass in rivers in Virginia and Maryland were producing eggs.

So the pill is not your greenest option. If you’re set on that method, progestin-only “mini-pills”—slightly less effective than estrogen—are available.

If you have a long-term partner and a knack for recordkeeping, you could try Natural Family Planning (NFP) or “periodic abstinence.” Since both individuals must cooperate, it serves as a great medium for inter-partner communication. NFP is less expensive than standard forms of birth control; works without artificial devices, hormones, or drugs; and has no harmful side effects for the user. Often, women report feeling more connected to their own bodies, since focusing on cyclical changes is key to this method. Georgetown University’s Institute for Reproductive Health (www.irh.org/nfp.htm) offers some great information on the topic.

Condoms are a popular, relatively green option; they account for an incidental amount of U.S. waste.

Polyurethane condoms tend to resist biodegradation, but latex condoms are biodegradable when disposed of properly in a garbage receptacle. If you flush them, they don’t biodegrade. Polyisoprene, or natural rubber, condoms are for those with a latex allergy.

“Natural skin” condoms are not animal-friendly (they’re made from sheep intestines), but they’re your greenest pick. Though as effective as other condoms at pregnancy prevention, they do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases.

Casein, a milk derivative, is used to manufacture most condoms. Find vegan-friendly brands here: http://www.brighthub.com/health/alternative-medicine/articles/43306.aspx.

Though not to be used on a regular basis, the Plan B® One-Step or Next Choice emergency contraceptive pills are available over the counter at most U.S. pharmacies for those at least 17 years old. Find a pharmacy with this database: eclocator.not-2-late.com.

Ashlee Green wrote this article for America: The Remix, the Spring 2010 issue of YES! Magazine. Ashlee is an editorial intern at YES!

Interested?

Find more green living advice:

YES! Magazine encourages you to make free use of this article by taking these easy steps. Green, A. (2010, February 12). YES! But How? :: Green Birth Control. Retrieved February 12, 2012, from YES! Magazine Web site: http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/america-the-remix/yes-but-how-green-birth-control. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License

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Reader Comments

What about copper IUDs?

Posted by Kelsey at Mar 31, 2010 04:04 PM

I believe that the environmental and health impacts of the copper IUD are very minimal.

GREEN BIRTH CONTROL

Posted by K at Mar 31, 2010 08:43 PM

For a preventative, Men should eat celery seed. There are other herbs and veggies that will do the trick.

There is also pennyroyal mint for the morning after... but that is supposed to be pretty rough and sickening. Can be toxic.

consequences of failed birth control

Posted by Helene at Apr 13, 2010 10:40 AM

Natural planning has a less fully effective. Then you have a baby, and the environmental impact of more people is so huge that seems like a more effective method might be a better choice. (admittedly any birth control is better than no birth control, but I'd like better odds)

this from http://contraception.about.com/[…]/effectiveness.htm

"Moderately Effective Methods:

Natural family planning methods (combined) tend to provide moderate typical user success rates, from 78 to 88 percent.

* Out of every 100 people who use one of the natural family planning methods (with the exception of withdrawal), 12 to 22 will become pregnant within the first year of use

Barrier methods, which include the male condom, female condom, diaphragm, spermicide, the cervical cap, and the sponge (for those who have not given birth) also yield fair typical user success rates between 71 to 85 percent.

* Of every 100 people who use one of these barrier methods for a year, 15 to 29 will have an unintended pregnancy

No Method - A Comparison:

To have a reference point to compare these levels to, it may be helpful to know that statistics indicate that women who are sexually active for one year and do not use a contraceptive method have an 85 percent chance of becoming pregnant in that year."