Sustainable Contraceptives: My Experience With Having No Babies While Reducing Waste & Looking After Myself
Written: August 2019.
Updated: 4th August 2021.
The internet talks about plastic free pantries on repeat, but when it comes to things like contraception, we’re all a little bashful.
You see, when you talk about contraceptives, you’re dealing with the very essence of life. It’s not just a ‘hey, change your plastic toothbrush to bamboo, mate!’ Contraceptives are the difference between creating life or not; and that’s not something anyone should take lightly.
Plus, sex is totally taboo. “Sex”. Did you just blush too?
For the purpose of this eco contraceptive blog, let’s pretend for a moment that everyone is having it, it’s a normal activity, and something we should talk about healthily and more often. Okay? Just pretend ;)
The following story is my journey with contraceptives. I’m no doctor, I’m not encouraging you to change or do anything. I am simply sharing my story in the hopes you’ll reconsider how you’re managing your contraceptive choices for the sake of your health and the environment.
Image by Nectar Photography
Let’s get into it - pun definitely intended.
Contraceptives come in all sorts of forms, some better for the planet than others. Perhaps you think an eco-blogger would advise against disposable condoms, pill packets, and hormones, but unfortunately it’s not that simple. While I totally care about the planet, I also believe we need to care about ourselves and honour each other’s unique situations too. Before we get talking, I want you to know I honour the way you choose to tackle contraceptives. No judgement here.
The Beginning
In January 2018, I picked up my pill packet and started to wonder how I could avoid the little plastic sheet. I was on a journey to zero waste (I still am and always will be) and slowly, but surely analysing every piece of plastic I threw into my rubbish bin. My internal contraceptive conversation started for the planet, but little did I know, I was about to learn a whole lot about my body too.
To begin my transition from the pill, I defined my priorities (in no particular order):
No plastic
No babies
Less impact on my fertility (I don’t want babies now, but I REALLY want them in the future)
At the time, my bestie recently had contraceptive rods put in her arm, so I looked into them.
The Contraceptive Implant
Also known as the Jadelle, these rods are more than 99% effective, you’re instantly fertile when you remove them, they last for 5 years, you don’t have to remember to take anything or do anything during that time, and they involve x2 4cm pieces of plastic. They sit under your skin on your bicep- you can hardly notice them.
These little rods caught my attention instantly!
The Jadelle- there are a few types, but this is most common.
At this stage, I cared less about having hormones in my body, but liked the fact the slow release of progestogen (the reason the Jadelle stops babies) had a very small chance of having an impact on my future fertility. Unlike many others, I didn’t have any side effects while on the contraceptive pill, so putting hormones in my body was something I felt okay with.
Before having anything inserted into my body, I weighed up the risks of the Jadelle:
Some people have regular periods, some have none at all, and others have heavy bleeding or irregularity that is hard to manage
Sometimes it’s hard for the doctor to remove it, and requires extra professional help
After insertion and removal, bruising occurs
Comparing these risks against the reliability and ease were enough to make me 90% sure of getting the contraceptive rods. At least three people I knew had them, so I had personal stories to add to my research too.
In New Zealand, the Jadelle is free for people under 22 (I was 21). I settled on it 100%. I made the appointment and got them inserted in January 2018.
Note: In New Zealand it’s $50-$150 if you’re over 22, and much cheaper at Family Planning than at the Doctors.
WARNING: If you are squeamish, look away. Blood alert.
Photos: before, during, during, after. The nurse was incredibly lovely and she even let me take selfies while it was being done- for the benefit of this story.
I couldn’t help but laugh at the waste of the procedure.
Plastic gloves
Plastic plasters
Plastic swabs
Syringes
Paper sheet on the bed
Plastic around each tool
Receipts & forms
How ironic.
The procedure didn’t hurt as I had local anaesthetic, but my bicep bruised badly for a week.
Why I took the rods out
Moving on…. the rods had been in my arm for 6 months, and I was stoked! My periods were slightly irregular but not too bothersome. I didn’t have to muck around with a condom before sex (I have one sexual partner, my husband, FYI), and there was no chance I could accidentally forget to take my pill.
Keep in mind what happens to people when they have the rods in:
They don’t get their period at all
They bleed 24/7 and have to get it taken out immediately
Nothing changes and their cycle continues as normal
Periods are irregular, with frequent spotting (this was me)
But then I read a book.
Period Repair Manual
Natural Treatment for Better Hormones and Better Periods by Lara Briden.
(Thank you to the many Instagram followers and friends who recommended it!)
I began to get frustrated at the thought that my periods were not actually periods, simply breakthrough bleeding; something I learnt in the book and confirmed online. I became aware that I may not even be ovulating and going through a normal cycle (some do and some don’t on the Jadelle), and I grew increasingly curious about what my body would be like with NOTHING. Just me and my period.
I’m sure if you read this book and many others, you’ll have questions like this too!
To top it off, my periods became increasingly irregular and hard to manage. They would come and go whenever they wanted, sometimes for two days, sometimes for 10. As a super active individual, irregular and heavy periods made life hard to continue normally.
During this time, I was asked to write about vegan and eco-friendly contraceptives for Eco Warrior Princess. I did. Here.
During my research, I kept on expecting to find the perfect contraceptive method for me. I didn’t, and I still haven’t! *more on this soon
After nearly a year of learning lots while battling with irregular bleeding, I realised that as a wanna-be-mum-some-day-in-the-distant-but-definite-future, I wanted to avoid hormonal contraceptives.
It was time for the Jadelle to come out!
Exactly a year after I had it inserted, my Jadelle was removed.
More blood coming… oh and more waste too.
I watched the nurse throw rubbish in the bin again, and realised it would have been less wasteful for me to have used 12 pill packets during that year… but hey, sometimes you have to weigh up the risks and try these things!
In hindsight, I wish I knew more about the impact of all hormonal contraceptives first, but I have a tiny little scar on my arm and no regrets.
So, the big question you’ve all been waiting for (the one I promised to share with you a year ago!)…
HOW DOES KATE HAVE SEX? a-hem, I mean WHAT CONTRACEPTIVE METHOD DOES KATE USE?
My husband and I (it takes two to tango) looked at all the options before the Jadelle was taken out. The two that stood out.
Natural fertility training by a professional using temperature and mucus testing (Natural Fertility New Zealand looks great)
Natural condoms (vegan and compostable)
EDIT: We considered the copper IUD, however I have low platelets. This means I bleed and bruise really easily. The risk of even heavier periods, plus the insertion process, is not something I believe would be healthy for my body. If you do not have this condition, I would say the copper IUD is the first thing to consider - low waste, no hormones, and usually easy to manage!
Awkward Condom Conversations
The condom discussion was a hard one. To quote my husband “it’s like wearing a raincoat in summer”. Penis numbing were also words he used to describe them, but I wasn’t prepared to continue taking hormones and we haven’t been able to prioritise the Natural Fertility training (yet).
Naturally, we tried vegan/natural/organic condoms from Jonny. Although the branding is BEAUTIFUL and the idea is great, they were terrible for us. Honestly, I joke about how they nearly spilt up our marriage. We only tried one brand, but I’m too scared to try any more! I’m sure they work for others, so I hope this doesn’t scare you off trying.
We use normal condoms
It pains me to say it out loud, but we use normal WASTEFUL condoms to have sex. That’s it for now. I hate that my most intimate and favourite moments involve plastic, while I try so hard to be plastic free in all the other areas of my life. But I’m not willing to be abstinent, and having a baby right now isn’t on our to-do list. We’d practice natural fertility methods on our own with Google as our teacher, but too many of our friends say this works… and they’re they ones who have multiple rug-rats running around. No thanks.
For now, I’ll stick to spending time with my beautiful nieces instead of my own kids, enjoy my plastic-filled sex life, and continue to research ways I can comfortably have no babies, no waste, and no hormones.
UPDATE 2 years later (August 2021)…
We use a combination of condoms, pull out method, and cycle tracking (a teacher, Anne, has taught me this and has a great course!). This has been an ongoing, evolving journey, and of course I would only recommend the pull out method and cycle tracking if you are in a position where creating another human wouldn’t be the end of the world. Tim and I don’t plan on making babies yet, and so far so good.
Happy baby or no-baby making everyone.
Story time…
I asked a few of my Patreon members how they tackle contraception. Here are some stories from others. I’ve kept them all anonymous of course, with permission to share.
Wonderful person #1:
For years, contraception was not about no babies for me, but about controlling my endometriosis. So it was the pill, and when that stopped working for me, a mirena, which seemed ok for a while but I’m now convinced it messed with my hormones and had a big impact on my mental health.
After having my first pēpi in 2015 I decided to take a break from hormonal contraception to see how my body felt. My first periods 9mo postpartum were AWFUL and that prompted me to finally read Lara Briden’s book too. I implemented her advice for endo and was soon relatively pain free. Contraception during that time was one lonely packet of condoms, and in the 18mo between giving birth and conceiving again (which was a one try wonder) we didn’t manage to finish the pack of 12!!
Fast forward to Feb 2018 when I had my second, and at some point I saw your blog pop up in a conversation on a FB group about the topic. I think it is what got me following you actually! I did some research to see if old school reusable diaphragms were available in New Zealand but no luck there so we continued as you have, with the condoms. The main contraceptive for is has been parenthood (exhaustion) and breastfeeding - not because it stops me getting pregnant (I was still feeding when we got pregnant with number 2) but because it puts my libido through the floor, as it is meant to of course!
While breastfeeding the only time I’m remotely interested in sex is when I’m ovulating, so that’s where the condoms come in on the odd month when we’re not too exhausted!! It might seem tragic but that’s just the season of our life. It will have to be condoms for the foreseeable future for us as I have no intention of ever using hormones again. I feel so much better without them. I’m sure I’m the further we’ll look to a vasectomy but right now we aren’t sure if our family is complete - I feel bad saying that in an eco conscious community as a mum of three, but it’s something that I’ve got to listen to my heart about!!
Wonderful person #2
Have been trying to find a solution for a couple years! I originally went on the mixed pill for painful periods at 18, but when I switched GPs in late 2019 was told that because of my migraine issues, had to change to progesterone-only. I’d loved being on the mixed pill- never had breakthrough bleeds, skin was amazing, boobs went up a size. Fast forward to the p-only.... often get breakthrough bleeding, my skin has been awful ever since, flat moods, and libido dropped right off (which apparently is a real side effect??!). Tried condoms for a bit but neither me or my husband enjoy them. Went to get the mirena late last year but failed insertion due to muscle spasm which apparently happens to every 1 in 10000 (so unlucky!) and was a v painful experience. Just told my husband two days ago that I’m planning to go off the pill- so I guess it’s back to condoms for lack of a better option! I feel like there should be a moon-cup equivalent??
Wonderful person #3
I get the depo vera injection every 10 weeks. I also am someone with endometriosis and wanted a low-waste contraceptive method that also preserved my fertility. This has been the most successful option for me. I don't have to maintain taking a pill at the same time every day, I've been lucky to get virtually no side effects, and it comes in a plastic packet (so roughly dispose of 5 plastic packets and 5 plastic gloves per year with this method). Again, women's health is the most underfunded and under researched area in health, even though it is so important!
Main Image by Nectar Photography
