Want to wear some jewelry that’s eye-catching and will start a conversation about women’s health and family planning? We’ve got the perfect pair of earrings for you. They’re little IUDs, as in intrauterine devices that prevent pregnancy.

In mid-March, Colorado legislators began to don sparkly, colorful earrings shaped in the form of IUDs. The legislators’ fashion statement is meant to support Colorado’s “statewide family planning program.” The family planning program would continue covering the cost of long-term contraceptives for women. If the legislators are successful, $5 million “state general funds” will be used to continue the Family Planning Initiative.

So far, this bill has helped many women in Colorado. For the past five years, the “private-and-publicly-funded Colorado Family Planning Initiative has covered the entire cost of IUDs and birth control implants for Colorado residents.” And the results of the initiative have been positive: more than 30,000 people signed up for long-term birth control. Also: “the teen birth rate has dropped 40 percent. Rates of abortion among teens have also dropped 35 percent,” Bitch reports.

So, why IUDs? Because they are so darn expensive in the United States. According to Bitch, IUDs are highly effective at preventing pregnancy, long lasting, but are pricy: “[R]ight now when women pay for them out of pocket, IUDs and the doctor’s visit for the insertion can cost up to $1,000.”

Now, let’s introduce the smart woman who created the IUD earrings.

Virginia Smith began making the IUD earrings at the request of one of her colleagues who works in women’s health. Each earring is made from glitter, metal, and resin. Pick from 12 colors. Each set is priced at $20.

Inspired by these IUD earrings? Check out a few other birth control inspired accessories:

Minivan prevention kit: A pouch that can hold your pills while making a sassy statement.

Birth Control Prevents Abortion button: The perfect new addition to your jean jacket flair.

Weapon of Choice key ring: It features a birth control pack charm.

Related on EcoSalon

Is Pulling Out a Safe Method of Contraception? Sexual Healing

How Green Is the Birth Control Pill?

The Future of Contraception for Males and Females

Image: Etsy shop, sharlencreations

The post Who Knew IUDs Could Make Great Earrings and Promote Family Planning? appeared first on EcoSalon.

Did you know that every time you take your birth control in the morning, or slip on a condom, you’re embarking on a sustainable (and totally sexy) act?

Birth control is an incredibly green, sustainable choice. For real. Every time a lady or a fella chooses to put off having a kid until they actually want to, they are doing themselves and the Earth a solid.

Grist recently reported on just how green birth control really is by citing research done from an Aspen Institute piece. The piece found that voluntary family planning — for people who want the service — “could provide 8 to 15 percent of needed carbon reductions.”

Whoa.

And this isn’t the only study that has shown these results. Grist cites more related research completed by the Center for Global Development. David Wheeler and Dan Hammer wrote a paper that argues using money that would go to climate research for family planning programs could compare positively to many other investments that are made in low-carbon technologies.

And if you really think about it, this research makes sense. Many people in the United States create a lot of emissions, reports a 2010 study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

And while birth control is a green choice, it’s also an essential option for women who want to have complete and total control over their lives. If a woman has an unintended pregnancy, she can experience a decreased quality of life. And, duh, that’s not because babies suck (kids are awesome) — it’s because unintended pregnancies cost a lot of money. Women who have the information and resources they need concerning pregnancy tend to be better off in the long run. They also choose to have fewer children.

Related on EcoSalon

How Green Is the Birth Control Pill?

Natural Birth Control Tips Part II: Getting Down to Business

Green Birth Control: Damned If You Do, Damned If You Don’t

Resources

Let’s make safe sex second nature

Aspen Institute

The Economics of Population Policy for Carbon Emissions Reduction in Developing Countries

Image: Monik Markus

The post Birth Control is a Green Option appeared first on EcoSalon.

People tweet about how Planned Parenthood changed their lives.

Friday night, one of the remaining issues on the table before an uneasy truce prevented a government shutdown was Planned Parenthood funding.  Ultimately, to avoid halting government services, Planned Parenthood funding – which accounts for less than 1 percent of the total budget – survives to be debated another day.

This weekend, people on Twitter are voicing many opinions on both sides of the issue, ranging from staunch support for the organization to outright hatred for its very existence. Many have had the misguided belief that government funds for Planned Parenthood pay for abortion services (they don’t), and others seem to believe Senate Minority Jon Kyl’s assertion that abortions are 90% of what Planned Parenthood does. He has since retracted that statement, and the facts show that abortions account for about 3% of their total services. (The Washington Post has an infographic that accurately depicts what Planned Parenthood actually does.)

However, through all the #plannedparenthood argument clutter emerged many comments from both women and men whose lives were impacted by Planned Parenthood (and not due to abortions). Here are their stories:

NicoleBell @queenofspain I had a pre-cancerous tumor caught and treated, thanks to #PlannedParenthood. My life and my kids owe them everything.

Mahmeme @cecilyk My name is Amy & I used #PlannedParenthood to get the pill when I worked at a Catholic health system who’s insurance wouldn’t cover.

tarastantrums My name is Tara and #PlannedParenthood diagnosed my PCOS when #mayo doctors couldn’t figure it out. @QueenofSpain

alectoincarnate I am a woman who has gone to #plannedparenthood since I was 16 for my annual check-ups & birth control…

chelseatalks Me 2! “@sharonburton: My name is Sharon and I used #PlannedParenthood in my 20s and 30s for basic health care @speakerboehner. #keepitgoing”

tubaville I’ve used #plannedparenthood to monitor my health because no insurance company will cover me after uterine cancer @SpeakerBoehner #passiton

Colo_kea #raiseyourhand First gyn exam (21) was #PlannedParenthood. No insurance/money -never thought could go to “doctor” http://raiseyourhand.org/

sitarmdas I’m Sitaram Das, I’m male, and I’ve used #PlannedParenthood services.

improvperson My Name is Katie and I’ve used #plannedparenthood #duh #happymomofthree

WhetherWhatever My name is Avery and I have used services at #PlannedParenthood. Don’t cut federal funding for those with no health care.

wingwit @speakerboehner I am Carolyn and I am one of the 1 in 5 US women who has been helped by #PlannedParenthood #keepitgoing #PPNYCAction

cvharquail RT @jonniker: #plannedparenthood was there for me in 1 of darkest times of my life, & has earned my respect. Unlike many of you, congress.

lauradstead My name is Laura and I used #plannedparenthood for oral contraception & reproductive health as a teen. W/O #PP I may have been a teen mom.

sammidoll #plannedparenthood is safe for now. for all you conservative idiots, i’ve personally used it for health care and preventatives #notabortion

AshleySieb #PlannedParenthood saves lives. I’m proof and I will always fight for the the education and services the org. provides young woman and men.

NonaNelson @Cecilyk I’m Nona & I went to Planned Parenthood for birth control because I didn’t have insurance or it wasn’t covered.

thatkristen The best (and cheapest) women’s health care I ever got was at #plannedparenthood.

andreagrimes I’m Andrea and #PlannedParenthood gave me support, care and resources when I was scared to talk to my parents about sex. @speakerBoehner

purplecrazies @Cecilyk I’m Laura and I went to Planned Parenthood for annual check ups in college because I couldn’t trust Student Health.

andrewpatner My name is Andrew and I’ve used #PlannedParenthood @speakerboehner, RT if you have too #keepitgoing @PPNYCAction

BeingMama @Cecilyk For years, the only way I afforded pelvic exams was through Planned Parenthood. Poor women’s health care is at stake.

awkwardlysocial @cecilyk and @queenofspain #plannedparenthood was my only doctor’s office while I had no insurance. UTIs are pretty painful if untreated…

noluckalaskan @Cecilyk: My name is melissa, and I’ve used #PlannedParenthood services. Consequently, my parenthood’s been planned.

starshollowgzt @CasualWednesday @QueenofSpain PP saved my life in ’71, found a pre-cancerous ovarian tumor on a routine check up

KAIZENcoach As a young woman I received the BEST care from #PlannedParenthood in contrast to private suburban M.D.’S that did not @queenofspain

karenebayne @QueenofSpain My husband and I got married very young & broke. We used #plannedparenthood to get our blood tests and birth control pills.

Cecilyk Again, with hashtag: My name is Cecily, and I have used services at #PlannedParenthood. Will again, thanks to no health insurance.

Along with these personal stories was a wave of tweets for Speaker Boehner with this message: My name is [insert name here], and I’ve used #PlannedParenthood @speakerboehner, RT if you have too.

image: clockworknate

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