I heard that hormone-filled pee is killing our fish and harming the environment. Is taking hormonal birth control bad for our water?

The simple answer is: yes, hormones in birth control are getting into the environment through pee. But—and this is a big but—it is small compared to other sources of estrogen. Current research finds that the contribution of EE2 (the primary active ingredient in the pill, ring, and patch) to the total amount of estrogen in our waterways is small. Bigger—much bigger—sources of estrogen in the environment come from industrial and manufacturing processes, agricultural fertilizers and pesticides, the drugs we give livestock. and the waste and runoff produced by these sources. Avoiding birth control with estrogen hormones will not eliminate the environmental impacts of estrogenic compounds.

Still not working?

If want to use a super effective method without any hormones, try the non-hormonal, copper IUD. You can also try other non-hormonal methods, including the diaphragm, condoms, or internal condoms.