Ask an ecosexpert
Just like words from your big sister, we mean well with our advice and opinions but they should never ever replace proper, professional medical advice when it comes to your health.
Questions
- How can I have greener sex?
- I’ve heard a lot about phthalates but I don’t really know what they are and whether I should worry about them. Can you fill me in?
- My partner and I are trying to get pregnant with a second child but it hasn’t been as easy as the first and we’re wondering if there might be natural products that could help.
- What is the greenest form of contraception?
- A wood dildo? Seriously?
- What’s the most eco-friendly way to clean my toy?
1. Use organic, all-natural, glycerine and paraben-free lube. Add some lube for silky, slippery fun. Glycerine is a sugar, and there's some evidence that the natural yeast in a woman's body feeds off that sugar and multiplies, thus leading to a yeast infection. Parabens have been known to mimic estrogen and wreak all kinds of havoc on the reproductive system. We say, why take the risk when there are lots of natural and organic products to be found?
2. Introduce a green sex toy. There's nothing sexy about phthalates, a chemical found in a lot of sex toys that is bad for our bodies as well as the earth. Look for toys made from glass, stainless steel, wood, or silicone. We especially love rechargeable toys as they mean fewer landfill-bound batteries.
3. Have some good clean fun. Shower with your partner to get soaped up and have some good clean fun, while conserving water at the same time.
4. Give a sexy gift. Giving a sexy gift is always fun, especially when you reap the benefits as well! Organic massage oils, soy candles, and fair-trade organic chocolate all make deliciously fun gifts. Pair any of these with the offer of a massage or a romantic night-in, and you're guaranteed to have a good time.
5. Bring some bamboo to bed. Bamboo sheets are green and sexy. Bamboo fabric is silky and slippery, wicks away moisture, and has natural antimicrobial properties.Combined with the fact it's also a rapidly renewable resource, how can you help but feel good when you go to bed?
6. Buy local. Nothing's sexier than fresh fruit, especially when it's organic and bought locally. Check out your local farmers' market for some delicious produce to get your mouth watering.
7. Get outside. Bring the bedroom to the backyard. Before you worry about the neighbours, consider you may be laying your naked body on harsh chemicals and weed killer. Make the switch to natural fertilizers and pest management, and take a roll in the hay—literally.
8. Ditch the condoms. Condoms are the best choice for safer sex. However, flushing condoms down the toilet can clog pipes, treatment plants, and rivers. The 3Rs definitely don't apply here, so when you finish, toss 'em in the trash. Unfortunately most condoms aren't biodegradable, but if you want the most ethical condoms available in Canada, check out Glyde. They're the first condoms to be awarded Vegan & Cruelty Free certification from the PETA Caring Consumer program.
9. Set the mood. Set the scene by lighting soy-based candles and playing soft music from a solar-powered or wind-up radio.
10. Use eco-contraception. High levels of synthetic estrogen from hormonal birth control means women are literally peeing estrogen into our water systems. A number of studies show that this is feminizing fish and other species in our ecosystem. So ditch the hormones and opt for other more eco-friendly methods of birth control such as fertility awareness, cervical caps, and I.U.Ds.
I’ve heard a lot about phthalates but I don’t really know what they are and whether I should worry about them. Can you fill me in?
Phthalates (pronounced THA-lates) are chemicals that are most often used to make plastics soft and flexible. The reason we at ecosex have phthalates on the brain is because many sex toys such as dildos, vibrators and plugs contain them, and according to the Canadian Cancer Society, in laboratory animals some phthalates have been associated with liver abnormalities including tumors, as well as fertility problems. Some phthalates may act as endocrine disruptors. Some researchers are concerned that phthalates from sex toys can leach into the body and cause cancer, or even birth defects in a fetus if a woman is pregnant. Some manufacturers recommend using condoms over the toys to protect against leaching. We’re not crazy about the extra waste that would add to our environment, not to mention the financial expense – so while scientific studies and debate continue, we feel really good about selling only phthalate-free toys.
My partner and I are trying to get pregnant with a second child but it hasn’t been as easy as the first and we’re wondering if there might be natural products that could help.
Assuming you and your partner are both healthy (and if you’re not sure, please do see your health care provider), there are definitely ways to increase your fertility naturally.
We are very big fans of the Justisse Method of Fertility Management. (Amy even offers one-on-one counseling in Toronto if you’re in the area, or by phone if you’re not.) Justisse provides women with the tools and knowledge to chart, interpret and monitor their menstrual cycles so they may enhance chances of conception.
For couples who enjoy lubricant you may want to consider replacing your usual brand with PreSeed Lubricant, which is the only intimate moisturizer that can cheerily call itself “sperm-friendly” because it has the same pH as semen and was designed to support conception. (Did you know even saliva can harm those sensitive sperm?)
And in between rounds of exhilarating, well-lubricated, well-timed sex, mom-to-be can put her feet up and enjoy a hot cup of FertiliTea, a delicious, herbal brew that we love, designed to promote reproductive wellness.
You can find these products in the Eco Fertility pages of our site. And if you’d like to learn more about Justisse specifically, you can contact practitioner Amy Sedgwick directly.
What is the greenest form of contraception?
Contraception is an area that could use a lot of greening. We were really shocked when we first started learning about all this. Oral contraceptives are convenient but they also have known negative side effects and risks. In addition, the 100 million women worldwide taking them are – this is icky – urinating synthetic estrogen into the eco-system. A 2008 study by Dr. Karen Kidd of the University of New Brunswick and the Canadian Rivers Institute found that estrogen from birth control pills flooding into the water system through sewage is killing entire fish populations by feminizing male fish. Serious health and environmental concerns about estrogen aren’t new, though. At a conference on breast cancer in Toronto in 1998, author and cancer surgeon Dr. Susan Love said, "It is lifetime exposure to estrogen that has increased world cancer rates by 26% since 1980....We live in a toxic soup of chemicals". Other studies are also showing significant evidence for a link between environmental estrogens and estrogen-like chemical pollutants and the earlier onset of puberty in girls. The Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society in the US are concerned by the increasing occurrence of breast development in girls as early as age 8. (Thank you to writer Hilary White of LifeSiteNews.com for many of these facts.)
Then there are condoms. The packaging is not biodegradable or recyclable, and only some condoms themselves are biodegradable. Animals may mistake them for food and eat them, choking. And many have been found to contain trace amounts of Nitrosamines, potentially carcinogenic in humans and animals.
So what’s a couple to do? The Justisse Method of Fertility Awareness is what we’ve chosen to practice ourselves (and Amy even teaches it if you’d like to learn more). No condoms or oral contraceptives required, just a healthy dose of self-knowledge and skills any couple can learn! And the good news is that nature can be resilient. Dr. Kidd’s study showed fish population recovery was possible after reducing the estrogen levels. So do it green for the fish! If you’re interested in natural fertility management, we offer related products in the Eco Contraception section of this site. And of course all of the toys and massage oils we sell are environmentally-responsible. (That’s why it’s called ecosex!)
We know...splinters are the first thing that come to mind if you haven’t yet experienced the beauty of wood. But we assure you, they’re as pleasurable as they’re gorgeous. And they’re really gorgeous!
NobEssence, our favourite brand and what we sell here on the site, has a special, unique medical grade finish that is silky to the touch, healthy and eco-conscious. These sculptures are so smooth, you need much less lubricant than with other toys. They make extraordinary gifts, and because they feel so good on the skin, we also recommend them for use in massage.
What’s the most eco-friendly way to clean my toy?
One of the lovely things about non-porous toys is that cleaning is easy. Just warm water and a mild soap will do the trick. You certainly don’t need toy cleaner, which usually contains the irritating chemical Nonoxynol-9 and other unpleasant ingredients. If you want to be extra sure your toy is clean, dildos (non-vibrating toys) made of glass, stainless steel, aluminum and silicone can be boiled and glass and silicone can even be cleaned in the dishwasher. (A recent scientific study at the University of Bonn in Germany revealed that dishwashers are actually a very eco-friendly option – they use only half the energy, one-sixth of the water and less soap too.)
Most vibrators are splash proof, not waterproof, so be sure to keep water away from the battery compartment or DC socket, in the case of rechargeable vibes. We recommend using a cloth with warm water and mild soap, and then rinsing it off with a wet cloth to remove soap residue. Vibrators should not be boiled or placed in the dishwasher unless the battery/motor is removable (such as the Hottie, Perk, and Little Chroma).
If you choose to share your toys or use the same toy anally and vaginally, please be sure to clean it thoroughly between each use. We also recommend you take the batteries out of your favourite vibe when storing it away. This will help prevent corrosion and also eliminates the possibility of your toy being left on accidentally.
