Is the contraceptive pill vegan?

As a vegan, I am very careful about the products I choose to buy. It alarmed me when I did become a vegan, just how many bits of animals are in products you just would not think of. I had the food covered and after a lot of detective work, think I have this pretty much under control. When I realised that there were bits of animals bodies in flavouring, E-numbers and so on I became pretty good at reading labels. Then came drinks and the understanding that a lot of alcoholic drinks were made using parts of fish bladder or egg whites in the production process. Then came soaps, face creams, lip balms, makes up, hair products etc. That is easily sorted out by buying products form a vegan store such as www.veganessentials.com. Then I needed to go though my wardrobe and remove anything with leather in (do you know they even skin unborn calves found in their mothers stomach at slaughter?) and shopping for shoes now is much easier from a vegan store as if you are lucky enough to find a non leather item in a high street store you may find that they finish them off with a leather label stitched in – some people just can’t help themselves can they? My furniture, car and everything else that springs to mind is covered. I was at the point of proudly stating that I do not have any part of animal suffering in my life.

Um. Not true.

Contraception. Now here is something most women are very concerned about. As a mother of 2 young children, it is also an issue important to me. My family is complete (I think – and do not wish to go down the sterilisation route in case we change our mind). Yet yesterday on looking at changing the brand of pill I use, I found out that most brands contain lactase. Not just that but a lot of medicines, including contraception aids, are tested on animals! Is there really no escape? Condoms are not free from animal cruelty unless you carefully choose your brand (and you can go to www.vegancondoms.com to see what brands are ethically acceptable). So, back to the pill. I have not yet found a  vegan friendly option so do not know if any birth control pills are vegan – and don’t expect much help from your medical practitioner on this one, do the research yourself (or wait for me to do it and post the results here – it’s on my to do list!)

So, if you are a vegan, you need to be aware of this issue and of course the choice you make is yours to make and some may draw the line here. You have to weigh up the facts and your views. I think taking contraception is more sensible than having an unwanted child but you may wish to look at your options.

I will for the immediate future continue taking the contraceptive pill. I suffer badly from PMDD, a severe form of PMS which seriously affects my life and the pill helps to control this. I know this is not anywhere near the suffering animals have to endure for humans so I am really struggling with this decision and will strive to find an alternative as it does not sit well.

I welcome your comments on this issue.