The KInd Life Community Forum
Use this space to share stories, exchange ideas, ask questions, and contribute to our growing community!
Being new to all this vegan world........I was wondering what everyones thoughts about taking medication, especially Birth Control! Other than abstainance and condemns...is there an alternative? What do you do?
I'm also new to this vegan world and still struggeling (especially because I live in a cheese and chocolate country: switzerland) . But I'm totally natural with my birth control for years. I'm doing NFP (natural family planning), it's a symptho-thermal method for birth control, but I have to admit, that in the US, most of the fans are really religious. In Europe, you don't have to believe *lol*.
During the days I have to contracept, I take condoms (sorry) or my diaphragma. I think they are quite popular in the U.S., so that shouldn't be a problem for you. And yes, it takes a bit to trust this thing, but I can assure you, that I've been using it now for years and never got pregnant.
Greetings from Switzerland.
I have a copper IUD. It comes with it's own set of pros and cons just like any BC method, but it works for me. There aren't any hormones and it has the smallest percentage of pregnancies. But you have to live with the fact that you have something man made hanging out in your uteris, which is disturbing, but it's a personal choice.
i haven't been on BC for years because it absolutely wreaks havoc on my body, mind and relationships. i can tell when i'm ovulating and essentially use the "rhythm" method w/condoms. i've had no problems.
once i considered an IUD, but planned parenthood pretty much flat out refused me. (b/c i've not had any children yet. even though i don't plan too! i was 28 or 29 at the time.) i was offended, but more than that relieved. i really, personally, wasn't comfortable with the idea of it. especially since i've been fine w/out it for so long.
good luck!
Honestly, unless if you're ready to have a child, you should stick with the pill. Yes, it's not natural, but as of now, it's the most effective.
If you're done having kids, have your partner get a vasectomy. It's a virtually painless, outpatient procedure.
Properly used, diaphrams with contracentive jelly are as effective as the pill. Having your partner actually insert the diaphram can be erotic and links him more to the entire BC process
@Danica: that's just not right!
NFP is as safe as the pill. There are lots of studies about it (I just have them in German, because there is a big study about NFP at a German University (Düsseldorf)), they have a collection of 40'000 menstrual cycles of women from the last 20 years and have found a Pearl Index of 0.4! Which is as good as the pill. And hormones just ruin your health, I had many, many side effects from the pill (yes, I tried various) and I could scream that nobody told me 10 years before, that there is a good alternative.
So go off the pill! The sooner the better!
Natural family planning is hard for those that don't have regular periods though. If your period is irregular you have no idea when you're ovulating. I guess the diaphragm is a good choice after that. I'm looking to get off of birth control.
there is supposed to be this stick that you can pee on to see when you are ovulating....for the purpose of those who want to get pregnant...i bet if you could get your hands on it...it would work the same way but reverse dont have sex when ovulating....and go crazy the rest of the time....but follow those books carefully! as i know the spirmy guys can hang out and wait....and such...so read up on those great books...i cant remember the name right now...but they are natural birth control books...
and good luck!!!
do what feels best for you! if its the pill its the pill....for me i just couldnt bare what was in it and such....didnt make sense to me anymore....
Thanks for the heads up regarding the ovulating stick. Fertility and conception are a tricky business.
70 Comments