[SaraJames]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone knew if there was a vegan birth control pill. Are all birth control pills tested on animals or are there animal products in them. I really want to go on LoEstrin 24 (or however you spell it) but I don't know if I can because I am a strict vegan. Does anyone know anything about vegan birth control?

[Fritemare]

So far, there aren't any birth controls available that would be vegan.

[rabid_child]

Abstinence is vegan.

If that isn't an option, consider the fact that pregnancy, child birth, and raising a child will likely use many more animal products than your BC pills. Medication is one time that it is not always practical to find a vegan option. Even if there was a pill without any animal products in it, it was inevitably tested on animals (as all medications are) and it's very existence would make it not vegan.

[SaraJames]

omg no, i don't want the bc because I have sex. I'm only 16 and I'm not like that at all. I want it to regulate my period.

[Fritemare]

There are other ways to regulate your period instead of taking BC pills.

Quote

There are a number of natual alternatives around to help you regain a healthy regular cycle again. For serious menstrual difficulties eg PCOS, endometriosis etc, you are probably better off seeing a qualified natural therapist who can monitor and oversee a program to suit your specific needs and symptoms.

For shorter term irregularity there are tools like:


Eating Maca Powder
Taking a good quality multivitamin
Using the Moon to regulate your cycle.

http://www.menstruat...http://www.menstruation.com.au/menstrualproducts/regulatewithmoon.html
Take a look at this site for more information.

[cryptoveggie]

Birth Control pills have to be tested on animals in order to be approved by the FDA if you live in the States or by other agencies in other countries. Premarin, a common ingredient in birth control, is estrogen obtained from pregnant mares. Lactose, milk sugar, is also a common ingredient.

Medicine is an area of compromise for vegans. You have to decide if the need is great enough. In my case I didn't think so. I've found other ways to control my dysmenhorea, but if I start a relationship where pregnancy is a concern I would start using birth control again.

[IamJen]

I think that some of the pills have vegan ingredients, but all are currently tested on animals.

You're quite young still, there is a possibility that your periods will straighten themselves out. BCP's can give you a regular bloodshed (it's not a period, exactly), but sometimes problems occur when going off the pill too.

[Lucious]

SaraJames said:

omg no, i don't want the bc because I have sex. I'm only 16 and I'm not like that at all. I want it to regulate my period.

Is it a serious issue? If not, you don't need it. I use birth control because I didn't have any periods for a year, and my doctor was getting very worried that I would develop osteoporosis in the future. I was reluctant for many months, but began to worry myself, so I gave in. It's better not to tamper with nature if you don't have to. You're 16, your body is still growing and changing, give it time. You don't need more hormones in your body than necessary.

[Fritemare]

Romina said:

Is it a serious issue? If not, you don't need it. I use birth control because I didn't have any periods for a year, and my doctor was getting very worried that I would develop osteoporosis in the future. I was reluctant for many months, but began to worry myself, so I gave in. It's better not to tamper with nature if you don't have to. You're 16, your body is still growing and changing, give it time. You don't need more hormones in your body than necessary.

I know a lot of women that want to regulate their period for sports (swimming), vacations, stuff like that. This might be the case for the OP. I'd talk to your gyno if you have one yet. She might be able to suggest some more animal friendly ways of regulating your cycle. As you get older, it does regulate itself though.

[rabid_child]

Fritemare said:

I know a lot of women that want to regulate their period for sports (swimming), vacations, stuff like that. This might be the case for the OP. I'd talk to your gyno if you have one yet. She might be able to suggest some more animal friendly ways of regulating your cycle. As you get older, it does regulate itself though.

Oddly, mine was completely regular as a teenager, albeit dehabilitatingly painful, but then in my early 20's it started to jump all over the place to the point where I would get it twice a month and be sick constantly from it.

Anyway, I didn't mean to offend you by suggesting you might be using birth control for... birth control. I've been on it for years, it's fixed me right up, and I think it's great. :P

This post has been edited by rabid_child: 16 January 2008 - 02:18 PM