Birth Control

[Kasmah]

Hello everyone! I'm a new user. I just subscribed to the Vegan Baby magazine and got my first issue, it's great! and I also got the new Raising Vegan Children in a Non-Vegan World and are finding both to be very helpful and informative.

I have been a vegetarian for almost 10 years and have recently decided to go vegan. I would say that I am about 95% of the way there. I am still eating bread sometimes or bagels that most likely have dairy in them, but I'm working on this. Otherwise I have been doing very well for the past 3 months and I am not craving cheese, dairy or eggs at all. I'm feeling great!

I have a couple of questions if anyone can help me out. My husband and I are planning on conceiving next year so I have some questions regarding birth control...

Does anyone have any information regarding birth control? I have been on the pill for 10 years and I know it can be dangerous, but does the pill contain animal estrogen or other animal products? If it does, I am immediately going to stop using it.

Also, are latex condoms fine or do they have animal products in them? KY Jelly (I'm thinking that would have animal products in it).

Thanks SO MUCH for any replies. It takes awhile to learn how many things have animal products in them. It's actually quite daunting and upsetting to find out that you've been using them!

Kasmah

[Erin Pavlina]

HI Kasmah,

Welcome to the boards!

Birth control pills do contain animal ingredients as far as I know. Perhaps someone else with more info can chime in on this one. After going off the pill, it may take a short while for your cycles to get going again, OR they may just pick up like they were before you went on the pill. Everyone is different.

If you're trying to conceive, I highly recommend Toni Wechsler's book, "Taking Charge of Your Fertility." it will help you get pregnant much faster than the average woman. And it will help you identify any fertility problems if you have one.

Go to www.veganerotica.com to get some vegan condoms.

And don't worry about identifying everything that is or isn't vegan. Even seasoned vegans have trouble occasionally knowing if something is vegan or not.

[Kasmah]

Thanks Erin for the information. I really appreciate it. I'm going to talk to my Doctor about going off the pill then if there are animal products in the one I am using. I have an appointment in a couple of months.

I'll definitely look into that Fertility book also.

I saw some of the vegan condoms on your website. I told my husband about them and I think he thinks I've completely lost it. I think he liked life when I was a vegetarian better, but he is completely supportive which is great.

Thanks again so much. This website and your book are just so helpful with dealing with different situations and are really helping me a lot.

[Teejay]

I have never seen a brand of the pill that didn't have lactose in it (I may be wrong) so even apart from the hormones, there's that to consider.

Pangea at www.veganstore.com has vegan condoms too, as well as a lubricant to take the place of KY jelly.

[Erin Pavlina]

Thanks, Kasmah. I'm glad the book is helping you! :)