So instead of ditching your pills or whatever birth control method you use, make a difference by buying organic when you can (to reduce the use of synthetic crop fertilizers) and telling Congress to support the Safe Chemicals Act.Īnd if you’re a purist and want only the greenest contraceptive, consider the copper IUD. Unfortunately, current laws aren’t doing enough to keep estrogenic chemicals of all kinds out of the environment.
Scientific research strongly suggests that reducing EDC exposure is critical to protecting reproductive health. EDCs have been linked to early puberty, infertility, and developmental defects.
While birth control pills aren't to blame for all the EDCs in our environment, that doesn’t mean EDCs in the environment aren’t a problem. But most people aren’t giving up on laundry, now are they? Surfactants, a type of chemical used in detergent and other products, are one of the most frequently detected EDCs in surface water. For example, industrial chemicals have lower potency than EE2, but they are often present in much higher volume. In addition, estrogenic compounds are found in common herbicides, like Atrazine and Roundup, as well as in common industrial chemicals, like the plastic additive bisphenol-A (BPA).Ī word of caution: it can be tricky to compare the impact of different EDCs since some are more potent than others. The volume of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) from livestock alone should cause pause: the total yearly volume of veterinary estrogens is more than five times that of oral contraceptives. It makes more sense to focus on agricultural and industrial waste.
#Bedsider pill reminder Patch
The study debunks the myth that birth control pills (and other estrogen-based hormonal contraceptives like the patch and the ring) are a major contributor to the presence of estrogenic compounds in waterways and concludes that EE2, the active ingredient in birth control pills, is minimal or nonexistent in drinking water. The notion of unsuspecting Americans drinking water filled with birth control hormones may get headlines-but thanks to a study published Environmental Science and Technology, we know it doesn’t accurately describe the state of the science. And remember: Any birth control is better than no birth control when it comes to helping the planet. But before you ditch your pill, make sure you have the facts right. We applaud anyone who wants to use an eco-filter when deciding on a contraceptive method. So, in honor of Earth Day, you’re reconsidering your contraceptive of choice. An article blaming your birth control pill for a plethora of environmental woes, from intersex fish to male prostate cancer, shows up in your twitter feed. It’s almost Earth Day and you’re thinking about what you can do to help the planet. By Kristen Moore, Executive Director of the Reproductive Health Technologies Project (RHTP)
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