As someone with endometriosis who is both lactose intolerant and vegan, I face an impossible choice each day: take medication that contains animal products and triggers digestive issues, or endure debilitating pain.

Birth control pills are essential healthcare for millions. They prevent unwanted pregnancies, manage debilitating conditions like endometriosis (affecting approximately 1 in 10 women of reproductive age—about 190 million women worldwide), PCOS (affecting 6-12% of US women of reproductive age), reduce painful periods, and provide hormone regulation for various health concerns. For many of us, they're not a luxury but a necessity.

Based on my extensive research, I have not found a single hormonal birth control pill on the market that doesn't contain lactose, despite the availability of plant-based alternatives. This negatively effects:

• Lactose intolerance  - approximately 1.3 billion reproductive ages females have some degree of lactose malabsorption. While the amount in pills may be minimal, daily exposure could potentially cause discomfort for many users with lactose intolerance.
• Vegans - around 20 million reproductive age females are vegan who wish to avoid animal products for ethical reasons
• Those with milk allergies  - around 6 million reproductive age women need medication free from dairy derivatives
• Cows - experiencing forced insemination, taking away their calves, being caged and forcefully milked
• Climate change - due to increased greenhouse gasses from cows.

The Solution is Simple
Pharmaceutical companies already have the capability to use plant-based or synthetic fillers in medications. Many other drugs are already lactose-free. There's no technical reason why birth control can't be made without lactose.

Alternative ingredients like: Cellulose, Plant-based starches, Synthetic binding agents would work just as effectively without creating barriers to care.

What We're Asking For
We're calling on pharmaceutical companies to:

1. Develop lactose-free versions of all birth control formulations
2. Clearly label birth control pills that are lactose-free
3. Ensure these options are available at the same cost as standard formulations

Healthcare should be accessible to everyone, regardless of dietary restrictions or ethical choices. No one should have to compromise their health or values to access essential medication.

Sign if you believe everyone deserves medication that doesn't compromise health or ethics.