While there is evidence that estrogenic contaminants are impacting the environment, there is no evidence that oral contraceptives are the main culprit. And what about the benefits of contraception to the environment?

The Vatican

recently stated that oral contraceptives are negatively impacting the

environment and male fertility.

Not surprisingly, the Vatican fails to look honestly at the scientific

evidence or at the bigger picture.

It is true that human exposure to chemicals

in our every day environment deserves more attention. A growing body of scientific

evidence indicates that

chemicals in our environment are negatively affecting male and female

fertility as well as the health of the developing fetus. More and more

reproductive health, rights and justice organizations, advocates, and health care providers are calling for research that will enhance

our knowledge of this issue and on reforms that will minimize our exposure

to harmful chemicals. Reproductive Health Technologies Project

is committed to the effort .

But this is an extremely complex issue.

While there is evidence that estrogenic contaminants in the environment

are having a negative impact, there is no evidence that oral contraceptives

are the main culprit. There are many other estrogenic drugs in

the environment – including hormone replacement and estrogen mimics

that are used for chemotherapy. In addition, industrial chemicals that

can mimic hormones such as those found in detergents are also estrogenic.

We are aware of only one study that

focuses exclusively on the impact of the specific synthetic estrogen

(17α-esthinylestradiol, commonly called EE2) contained in some oral contraceptives

(many oral contraceptives do not contain EE2). But in this study,

EE2 was tested in its "pure" form, not as it is released in a woman’s

urine. The Vatican’s effort to disparage contraceptives misses

the larger picture — we need better water treatment systems to get

rid of ALL the chemicals.

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Naturally the Vatican’s analysis also

fails to acknowledge the benefits of contraception to reproductive health

and the environment. Most mainstream scientists agree that the

human impact on the environment is the most detrimental. Contraception

has enabled women and families to decide when and how many children

to have and this in turn has been show to improve the health of children,

women, communities and the planet. The Vatican’s overstatement of

this science is just the most recent twist in their decades-long rejection

of safe, effective modern methods of contraception.

But there is a lot we can and should

do, including:

Passing comprehensive chemical

policy reform in the United States through such legislation as the Kids

Safe Chemical Act

policy reform in the United States through such legislation as the Kids Safe Chemical Act Urging for more research

into the impact of all pharmaceuticals in the environment

into the impact of all pharmaceuticals in the environment Ensuring that waste water

treatment plants use the most effective methods to remove contaminants;

and

treatment plants use the most effective methods to remove contaminants; and Supporting "green chemistry"

so that all pharmaceuticals including contraception are safe and effective

while not harming the environment.

We urge the Vatican to join us in these

efforts — efforts that will move us in the direction of protecting

the environment and our fertility.