Picking up from where we left of yesterday. We were discussing the choices we have as women about contraceptives and the green fact we should know about each of them to help drive our decision of which contraceptive device/method to use.
Condoms
1. Prevention rate
Successful against pregnancy at a rate between 94-97%, condoms are the most popular choice of contraceptive. It doesn’t prevent against all STDs but gives great odds against HIV when used correctly.
2. Health Impact
Condoms prevent conception by preventing semen from coming in contact with the vagina – preventing the possibility of fertilizing an egg. Generally safe unless you have allergies to latex or the chemicals used in the flavoured ones, condoms are one of the least invasive contraceptives.
3. Green Impact
60-100 million condoms are improperly disposed off each year in the UK alone. Conventional condoms are made from latex and most are infused with casein, a dairy derivative. There is a vegan choice on the market and it is call Glyde Condoms where the use of casein is substituted with a vegetable extract taken from the thistle family. Condoms also create a lot of waste as each is designed for a one time use only and comes individually packed – a health and safety procedure/requirement that cannot be compromised.
Vaginal Ring
1. Prevention rate
The Vaginal Ring is 92-99.7% effective as birth control but it offers no protection against STDs.
2. Health Impact
The V-Ring is a thin, transparent, flexible ring that you insert into the vagina yourself to provide contraception protection. Each Vaginal Ring lasts for up to 3 weeks, and it works by slowly releases estrogen and progestin hormones into the body. These hormones will stop ovulation and thicken the cervical mucus that creates a barrier to prevent sperm from fertilizing an egg. Essentially it works like how the birth control pill does.
3. Green Impact
As each ring is designed for a 3 weeks use, it means this creates less plastic/wrapper waste than any most form of contraceptives such as the birth control pills and the condoms.
To be continued with the other 3 contraceptive devices in our next post.
