Natural Spermicide

[00goddess.livejournal.com]

Ok, here's the deal: Indigo and I are preparing to cast condoms to the wind. We're going to get tested for all the nasties, and then we will start using a cervical cap. YAY no more condoms!

Here's the problem: I am very uncomfortable with the idea of putting nonoxynol 9 in my pussy. I don't like it. It is bad, bad news. I want to use natural spermicides. I'm having trouble finding them.

I know that honey is often used in Europe, with cervical caps, as a natural spermicide. I found a recipe online which called for mixing honey and lemon juice. However, I'm worried about putting that much sugar in my vagina- it seems I'd be asking for a yeast infection.

I also found a recipe (on the cervical cap manufacturer's web page) that called for mixing lemon juice with aloe gel. This sounds plausible. My one worry is how this will affect the taste of my pussy (I get little enough oral sex as it is, I don't want to get less.)

Has anyone ever used a natural spermicde, or have any ideas for one?

Comments

Just a musing...

[sister0fnight.livejournal.com]

I'm not too clear on the spermicide thing, but what about just taking the infamous birth control pills, instead of all that?

Re: Just a musing...

[00goddess.livejournal.com]

The reason I chose a cervical cap is because it is safer than bc pills. When used correctly, it poses NO long-term risks to my health. The same cannot be said of bc pills.

I'm not at all comfortable with the idea of putting a synthetic, artificial hormone in my body. I also have endometriosis, which means taking anything that raises my estrogen levels is very bad.

I've reviewed my options, and the cap is the best plan for me. In my opinion, it is the most feasible method out there- it is a barrier which does not interfere with sensation, allows spontaniety, and is economical.

00goddess

Re: Just a musing...

[(Anonymous)]

How about IUD?

Re: Just a musing...

[00goddess.livejournal.com]

IUD's are dangerous. No way. The risks, in my opinion, do not even equal the benefits- I'd rather use condoms.

Plus, a friend of a friend has one, and altho she supposedly loves the birth control effects, it gives her unrighteously painful cramps.

My grrl parts are messed up enough.


00g

Re: Just a musing...

[sister0fnight.livejournal.com]

What are the long-term risks of BC pills? (I've never heard of anything like that) I was thinking of getting them, but if there are some long-term risks I'd like to know, you know?

Re: Just a musing...

[00goddess.livejournal.com]

Birth control pills work by giving your body a constant dose of either estrogen, progesterone, or a mix of the two (depending on the brand) in order to simulate pregnancy. The dose is suddenly cut off when the "schedule" determines that you should menstruate, and resumes when the schedule determines you should stop menstruating.

The long terms risks include, but are not limited to: permanent hormonal imbalance, including thyroid imbalance, permanent metabolic changes, weight gain, increased risk of heart disease, permanent skin discoloration, uterine and ovarian cysts and tumors, difficulty becoming fertile again, and last but not least, pregnancy.

Any doctor who tells you the pill has no side effects is lying.

I'm not taking any of those risks, thanks.

00g

[sister0fnight.livejournal.com]

What's the name of the pill you're using? It sounds much better than the kind that 00g described. I have to make an appointment with Planned Parenthood this week and I'd like to ask the doctor more about it and such.

[00goddess.livejournal.com]

Remember, that each pill works differently for each person, and that there is no "miracle pill" to make life better. Do what's best for YOU.

00g

Re: Just a musing...

[00goddess.livejournal.com]

Actually, all bc pills have been associated with a decreasein uterine and ovarian cancers. This benefit was discovered in the early 90s. However, those results are now being questioned.

Many doctors prescribe bc pills to deal with endometriosis. This is really a stopgap; it doesn't fix the problem, it just postpones the symptoms. When hormone therapy is ended, the body begins to work overtime to replace and regrow lesions. So actually, hormone therapy means a worse case of endo later on.

I have no interest in EVER using bc pills. I don't want to mess with my body's hormones.

00g

[the-denialer.livejournal.com]

how does/would smoking affect it?

[00goddess.livejournal.com]

If you smoke, AND use hormonal birth control, you significantly increase your chances of having a blood clot or a stroke. This is on the label of EVERY birth control packet and on the warning section of the ads.

[the-denialer.livejournal.com]

if you're a smoker over 35, it's most significant.
i don't take the pill, i was just curious.
and i've since researched it.
thanks anyway.

[00goddess.livejournal.com]

But that's not the contraindication with birth control pills.

[00goddess.livejournal.com]

Smoking IS contraindicated, but not because of cancer- it's contraindicated because, when combined with birth control pills, smoking increases one's chances of dangerous blood clots.

Natural Spermicides..

[zaiah.livejournal.com]

Lemons. Not just lemon juice.

Wearing the cap is a wonderful technological marvel.. Previous to it - slices of oranges, limes, and other citrus - placed within were used to work as a seive and then an acidic spermicidal environment.

Half the fun of it is preparing and inserting the disk? :)


Tequila, Salt, and Lime? *wink*

Honey Lemon Soothers? (Oh.. and Honey has it's own natural health benefits.. Look into some of the varieties and their benefits (tupelo?).. I really cannot imagine - in my very lay opinion - them increasing bacterial risk.

Happy hunting for the right combination..
And last ditch phrasing from my Mother?

"Any man worth sleeping with is worth concieving a child with.. If he's not worth risking the end result.. He isn't worth the fling."

Re: Natural Spermicides..

[00goddess.livejournal.com]

I read some interesting stuff- apparently an old version of the cap was actually the end of a lemon. The juice was spermicidal, and the round peel fit over the cervix.

As far as honey, it's not bacterial infection I'm worried about, it's yeast infection. Sugar encourages the growth of yeast.

And regarding your mother's words, I'm not sure if you posted them because you mean them seriously, or not, but I'll respond as though you did. If you did not mean them seriously, I apologize for assuming.

I don't see the purpose of sex as strictly to conceive. I see sex as a sacred union between myself and my partner.

The phrase "risking the end result" implies that there should be a punishment for sex, or that sex should always result in conception. For me, the "end result" of sex is intimate union.

I've heard anti-choice people say "She fooled around, now she should have to take responsibility." It seems very similiar to your mother's attitude. Why should a woman not have control over her sex life? Why should sex be a "risk" in any fashion?

Indigo is certainly not a "fling"; he's my partner. Sex without conception does not imply that it is casual sex or sex without commitment. Indigo is "worth" spending my life with. He's worth my love, time, conversation, affection, and sexuality.

00goddess

Re: Natural Spermicides..

[moody834.livejournal.com]

Amen, soror!

Re: Natural Spermicides..

[cottoneyedjoe.livejournal.com]

I thought about the honey thing....
Honey actually inhibits the growth of both bacteria, and fungus. there would be no increased chance of yeast infection with honey. it might even help a yeast infection. It's a type of sugar that is difficult for one celled organisms to digest, and besides, honey is alot more than just sugar(as long as it's not pasturized or heated.

Re: Natural Spermicides..

[00goddess.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I knew that honey usually inhibits the growth of bacteria. The potassium in honey makes it very antiseptic. But I was still worried about the yeast thing. I didn't know they needed a specific type of sugar. Thanks!

Also, I was worried about the spermicidal qualities, because semen has a very high amount of potassium, in order for sperm to survive. So would honey actually be pro-sperm in this case? I wonder about these things.

So, only raw honey is suitable? Farmer's Market, here I come. OH, another question: will heating it to 98.6, inside my body, damage it?

00g

Re: Natural Spermicides..

[dyfferent.livejournal.com]

Back when I was in school a fellow student was doing VERY promising research with cottonseed oil (the oil pressed out of the seeds of cotton) as a male contraceptive. It appears there is some merit to this.

http://www.fertileheart.com/research/p.rs.cottonseed.html

It's a pity we don't know how MUCH the male has to eat in order to experience this benefit. It may be so little that you could just work it into normal meals/cooking.

Cottonseed oil also lowers cholesterol:
http://www.bakeryonline.com/Content/news/article.asp?Bucket=Article&DocID={EE3ACAB2-C2CB-11D3-9A82-00A0C9C83AFB}&VNETCOOKIE=NO

It's worth a shot to look around and see if you could find more data on this. It looks promising.

The Hunt for Natural Spermicide

[(Anonymous)]

I also will not ingest synthetic horomones into my body, much less anything from a pregnant mare factory...

I think I found the recipe on the cervical cap company website? : 3 drops of lemon juice in one tablespoon of aloe vera gel, refrigerate leftovers, discard after 72 hours? did you find a different one?

I also found this:
http://hills.ccsf.org/~jparke03/dmaeacet.html

It's a facinating link! It supports the theory of sugar as spermicide, and also suggests a "good" chemical called DMAE for use as spermicide, but does not give a recipe...

I wish there were studies done on greem medicine!
P.S. the contraceptive I am interested in getting is called the "Lea Sheild." It is basically a diapram/cap that does not need to be fitted.. around $40 bucks... http://www.birthcontrol.com/leabody.html

Re: The Hunt for Natural Spermicide

[00goddess.livejournal.com]

Hm, I'm in the U.S., and the Lea is $58.00, plus shipping. Plus, I think I'd prefer a fitted device. I like cervical caps beause they are very small. And what is with that hole in the middle of the Lea? Thanks for the link, though.

Yes, those recipes were the ones I found. An heralist friend advises me that raw honey is the way to go. DMAE sounds great, but not sure where I'd find it.

In Germany, many stuidies are done on natural medicine. But in the U.S. it's almost impossible to find a docotr who will even give natural medicine any credit.

00goddess

Coke is it! or not.

[(Anonymous)]

Scientists study affect of Coke on sperm!

http://www.snopes2.com/cokelore/sperm.htm