What sort of birth control do you use? Is it green? Does it matter?

Contributor: anelinvader anelinvader
well i have had a Vasectomy permanet and green my S/O also has an iud but that is more to controll her cycle than any thing
11/15/2009
Contributor: sarahbear sarahbear
I had my tubes tied about 3 years ago, after the birth of my 4th child. My husband and I decided it was time because hormonal birth control just was not working for us. We've used pills, the patch, nuva ring, and progesterone only pills. All of which either made me intensely emotional or were not effective in preventing pregnancy. We also tried condoms and spermicide for a while, but the expense led to a few nights of 'ah screw it' and one of our children being conceived.
11/18/2009
Contributor: EffinSara EffinSara
I use both the pill and male condoms. Whatever negative impact these may have on the environment is far less than the negative impact that would come from the children I would have without them. I'm not ready to give up PIV sex for the sake of greenness :/
11/18/2009
Contributor: Sundae Sundae
How green my birth control is doesn't really influence my choice at all. If someone offered me a greener alternative that was equally effective I would definitely pursue it, but until then I'll be sticking with male condoms + the pill. For me, there are already too many other factors to consider when picking my BC that adding how environmentally friendly it is to the mix would leave me with practically nothing to choose from! I've had enough trouble finding the right type of pill etc. so my motto is if it's not broken don't fix it!
11/18/2009
Contributor: Viktor Vysheslav Malkin Viktor Vysheslav Malkin
I use male condoms, and I do not look for a green tag. That being said, you just reminded me how reckless I am. I really should take green into consideration. What could it hurt?
12/22/2009
Contributor: TitsMcScandal TitsMcScandal
I am on the pill. No idea if it is green. Not really a priority in my eyes, but what works with my body. I adore my pill. I have a three hour window to take it, whereas I have found others will mess up if they aren't kept within the same thirty minutes everyday. I need that flexibility.
01/18/2010
Contributor: Aidin Aidin
I use Breastfeeding 10mo still no period, I watch for signs of ovulation, I use VCF over the counter film and condoms. I will not have hormones put into my body and will not have serg. to take a gift away that so many desire so I use all the other methods I can, I really want that copper iud but I can not afford it but it uses the natural properties of copper.
01/26/2010
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
I use the generic version of Seasonique. I love it because I only get a period every 13 weeks. I suppose it's more green than some pills because there's a plastic case that holds the 3 sheets of pills and the sheets get replaced every 3 months, the plastic case could be reusable. I honestly have no idea if my pharmacy does or not, but I also figure that a few scraps of foil right now are slightly more green than lots of diapers in the trash. But that's just me, lol
02/07/2010
Contributor: LikeSunshineDust LikeSunshineDust
I use the pill and male condoms (when I'm lucky enough to see my boyfriend). It's not green and I know it, but I try to be green in other aspects of my life, so I feel like I make up for it. My brand of pills comes in one of those generic blue soft plastic cases (Some women know what I'm talking about). Before that, in the pharmacy, it comes in a foil package. I know because I work there.

I buy my condoms in bulk, so there's usually no box at all, except for the one they shipped in. I recycle or reuse all boxes.

@Julia: Just to let you know, your pharmacy does not recycle the plastic case. Each pack of your pills comes in a foil pack with its own new case.
02/07/2010
Contributor: Luvasaurus Luvasaurus
Quote:
Originally posted by Carrie Ann
Related to: The Green Project: From Birth Control to Earth Control?

What sort of birth control do you use? Have you ever thought about whether it's green or not? Is the effect your birth control has on the earth a determining factor in ... more
I think BC is a forgivable place to not be green.

I’m surprised I’m the only one on the Patch. I’ve been on it for 4 years and it is so much easier than the Pill.
02/07/2010
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by LikeSunshineDust
I use the pill and male condoms (when I'm lucky enough to see my boyfriend). It's not green and I know it, but I try to be green in other aspects of my life, so I feel like I make up for it. My brand of pills comes in one of those generic ... more
I kind of figured they didn't. It'd be neat if they did, because I know I've managed to open it on my own.
02/09/2010
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
I use the "mini pill" because we have some concerns about estrogen...a couple of very close female relatives have developed cancer from ERT and also from the combined pill.
02/10/2010
Contributor: Rayne Millaray Rayne Millaray
If the doctor would have done it, I'd have had my tubes tied after my miscarriage. I already had all the children I ever wanted (one boy and one girl), but I was only nineteen and his office prefers you be 25 or have four children (whichever comes first) and I think state law requires you be 21 or 23.

I suck at taking pills and I hate shots too much to be getting one every few months. And those methods don't protect you from STIs, so I've always used condoms.
02/12/2010
Contributor: m&dlove m&dlove
Quote:
Originally posted by Carrie Ann
Related to: The Green Project: From Birth Control to Earth Control?

What sort of birth control do you use? Have you ever thought about whether it's green or not? Is the effect your birth control has on the earth a determining factor in ... more
I am about to check into Enssure Sterilization. It is a procedure that has been out since 2000. It is for those who are not wanting anymore children. As I don't. I have 2 girls. Ages 3 and 5. It is a procedure that has two metal type springs that are placed into the tubes. Then your body naturally grows tissue around those springs. It takes anywhere to 3-6 months for the tubes to be completely blocked. It is incerted vaginally. It take about 13 mins without any pain or discomfort like your regular examine for a papsmar. I am not comfortable with the whole hormone pills because of breast cancer running in my family. I am 34 years old.
02/27/2010
Contributor: Hannah Savage Hannah Savage
Quote:
Originally posted by Adriana Ravenlust
MY choice of BC has nothing to do with being green.
Agreed. I think I have bigger things to be concerned about (like the hormones going into my body) rather than whether or not they are green.
04/06/2010
Contributor: ~LaUr3n~ ~LaUr3n~
I use the pill but not for birth control-for health reasons.
I use male condoms and on rare occasions, spermicide. So I guess I have a triple plan lol.
06/23/2010
Contributor: Blinker Blinker
I've never thought about birth control being green or not but it's an excellent point. I use NuvaRing and now all I can picture is duckies with little rings around their feet, like those plastic soda can keeper-together-things

Now I'm sad.

When I dispose of them, I put each ring back in the plastic foiled pouch in comes in. That's what the inserts recommend, but I wonder how they break down over time.

Dammit.
07/02/2010
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
We use Withdrawal. Is it "green?" I don't know, we throw away a LOT of Kleenex.
07/02/2010
Contributor: Kynky Kytty Kynky Kytty
I used to be on the pill for several years, and when I had a boyfriend I would also use male condoms.

However, I perfer my hormonal balance and stability when I am off the pill and I am never going back. I am more attuned to my body now than I have ever been, and seriously, the pill is playing tricks on my mind when it comes to sexual attraction. Don't trust the pill.
07/04/2010
Contributor: Kynky Kytty Kynky Kytty
Quote:
Originally posted by m&dlove
I am about to check into Enssure Sterilization. It is a procedure that has been out since 2000. It is for those who are not wanting anymore children. As I don't. I have 2 girls. Ages 3 and 5. It is a procedure that has two metal type ... more
Oh I had never heard of this, this is really interesting. Once I have children, if I ever do, this is something I'd consider.
07/04/2010
Contributor: Kim! Kim!
Quote:
Originally posted by Kynky Kytty
I used to be on the pill for several years, and when I had a boyfriend I would also use male condoms.

However, I perfer my hormonal balance and stability when I am off the pill and I am never going back. I am more attuned to my body now than ... more
Yes! That is what I have found! I had a copper IUD put in a few years ago and was considering going back on the pill. My gyno let me try the pill out again before getting my IUD out and I soon realized that I forgot that the pill is actually horrible.
07/04/2010
Contributor: ~LaUr3n~ ~LaUr3n~
Quote:
Originally posted by Kim!
Yes! That is what I have found! I had a copper IUD put in a few years ago and was considering going back on the pill. My gyno let me try the pill out again before getting my IUD out and I soon realized that I forgot that the pill is actually ... more
What about it do you hate?
07/04/2010
Contributor: Kim! Kim!
Quote:
Originally posted by ~LaUr3n~
What about it do you hate?
It messes horribly with my moods and sex drive. I feel far less like myself. It also made me quite a bit more tired. Before I switched the IUD I was on the Nuva Ring and that was the absolute worst hormonal birth control I've ever tried. I had the worst mood swings and became quite depressed while using it. I quit ever actually wanting sex, I'd do it if it was suggested but I never initiated or wanted to initiate. My orgasms did not seem as strong either. I don't get quite as bad when I'm on the pill but I definitely feel more like me when I'm not using anything hormonal. I have tried several different pills, the low hormone ones do not work for me at all either, I spot constantly.
07/04/2010
Contributor: PassionQT PassionQT
I just had the Implanon stick inserted in my arm about a month ago. It's sort of like Norplant, but this one only has to be replaced every 3 years. There is no estrogen in it, all progesterone.

Let's see, side effects. Well, in the last 5 weeks, I have had 3 light periods. The first one was a regular one and that is when they have to put it in. Two weeks after that had a light one, then a break and one more. Yeah, not fun at all. I'm hoping that over time, my body will adjust to it and it will either a)stop my periods altogether or b)lighten it considerably. I don't need to spot for the next 3 years, so I'm giving it 6 months and if it hasn't improved it's going to have to come out via an incision. No weight gain so far and a bit of hyperpigmentation on my upper lip. As far as my sex drive, well it has declined a little because I'm not experiencing "the need to breed". Moodwise I feel pretty chill and balanced. Mellow, but not as depressed as I was when I tried the generic version of Seasonique (Larissa? or something like that).

But, without some type of bc, my periods are extremely painful and heavy. I don't want to have to look in to a hysterectomy quite yet.
07/04/2010
Contributor: Tuesday Tuesday
Quote:
Originally posted by PassionQT
I just had the Implanon stick inserted in my arm about a month ago. It's sort of like Norplant, but this one only has to be replaced every 3 years. There is no estrogen in it, all progesterone.

Let's see, side effects. Well, in the ... more
Do you have endometriosis? It sounds like it.
07/04/2010
Contributor: AU AU
In 10 years of being sexual with one person, I have rarely used birth control. The only kind we have used are condoms and spermicide, withdrawal. The first two methods were early in our relationship. We now only use the withdraw method--I don't recommend it to anyone. Our situation might be unusual. My significant other doesn't seem to have pre-ejaculate and has extremely great self-control. I might be infertile, as well? I wish I could find out if I am without having to try getting pregnant. When we did use condoms, I did feel yucky throwing them out. I never thought about being green, but yes, I guess that is a way to put it. I don't like the idea of used condoms in a landfill? Blegh!
07/17/2010
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Alura, you could look up how to take your basal body temperature, with a special thermometer every morning. It will tell you right after you have ovulated with a rise in body temperature. This would let you know if you are ovulating.

My Man and I also have used withdrawal for years, and we are VERY fertile. The latest on pre-ejaculate is that most men do NOT have sperm in it, especially if they have taken a pee since the last time they ejaculated. Planned Parenthood now recommends withdrawal for SOME couples, usually if you are monogamous, pregnancy wouldn't be the end of the world, are fluid bonded and your Man is willing to do it. We fit all these recommendations, and I am allergic to latex, My Man is large and the non-latex condoms on the market are very uncomfortable for him, and they break or fall off and that's worse than withdrawal. I also can't use the pill, IUD, diaphragm and withdrawal is about it for us. The only time I get pregnant using withdrawal is if he DOESN'T pull out.

Like you, I don't recommend it for everyone, but it works for many people. Don't assume you are infertile because you haven't gotten pregnant while using withdrawal. It is actually a good form of birth control and the most common form of birth control in the world.
07/17/2010
Contributor: joja joja
I use condoms and only condoms. I do care about being green, but until there is a more eco-friendly barrier method, I will stick to what works for me.
07/17/2010
Contributor: AU AU
Quote:
Originally posted by P'Gell
Alura, you could look up how to take your basal body temperature, with a special thermometer every morning. It will tell you right after you have ovulated with a rise in body temperature. This would let you know if you are ovulating.

My Man ... more
I knew about the basal temperature thing and fertility times, but I never thought of checking it for infertility signs. Interesting!

I know that pre-ejaculate usually doesn't contain sperm to be very "useful", but I still hear warnings about it. A little can be a lot.

I didn't really assume I was infertile since we've never conceived, though. It was just something I wondered about and it would actually please me if it turned out that way. I'm probably too careless for a childfree person, but our method has been working for us fine! Again, I don't recommend it for most, though.
07/17/2010
Contributor: AU AU
Quote:
Originally posted by P'Gell
We use Withdrawal. Is it "green?" I don't know, we throw away a LOT of Kleenex.
I didn't think about that as I responded earlier! But yes, weeks when we are more active, the trash does fill up awfully quick. At least tissues break down quicker than condoms? Maybe I will carefully rinse off. Oh, but then I'm using up water! Wow, everything has a downside! Oh, well.
07/18/2010