How to pick your ideal birth control method
The kind of nonhormonal birth control you take depends on a number of factors, including your personal choices, cost, time, health, and cultural and religious beliefs.
If you’re unsure of which birth control method is best for you, your doctor could be a useful resource. You may even wish to phone your insurance company to examine which options are covered and their associated out-of-pocket expenditures.
some questions to ask as you assess your options include:
What is the price of birth control?
What is the duration?
Can I purchase it over-the-counter or do I require a prescription?
Does it offer STI protection?
How successful is it at preventing pregnancy?
How effective is it when used flawlessly compared to when used normally?
What adverse consequences are there?
How simple is the long-term application of the method?
If you’re certain that you don’t want children, ask your doctor about sterilization, a hormone-free, permanent birth control option that is over 99 percent successful. For men, sterilization is a vasectomy, while for women, it entails tubal ligation.
Nonhormonal birth control is accessible to all.
Hormones are a component of many birth control treatments, but there are alternatives.
Since nonhormonal approaches are less likely to generate adverse effects than hormonal ones, they may be more alluring. Additionally, you might want to look at nonhormonal birth control options if you:
are not sexually active or in need of continuous birth control
Your health insurance has changed, so hormonal techniques are no longer covered, and you don’t want to alter your body’s normal cycle for religious or other reasons.
desire an alternative to hormonal birth control
To discover more about each treatment, including its effectiveness in preventing pregnancy, how it operates, and where to obtain it, continue reading.
Using natural family planning
Natural family planning (NFP), also known as the fertility awareness method or rhythm method, may be a good option for you if you’re in tune with your body and don’t mind spending some time tracking your cycles. A woman can only become pregnant when she’s ovulating, so NFP involves identifying and tracking your fertile signs to prevent having sex during ovulation. Most women find that their cycles last between 26 and 32 days, with ovulation occurring somewhere in the middle.
Avoiding pregnancy can be achieved by timing sexual activity away from ovulation. You might want to refrain from having sex on days when you have a lot of cervical mucous because many women experience this during the most fertile period of their cycles. Around ovulation, many women also feel their body temperature rise. The vagina, not the mouth, frequently yields the best results, and you need to use a specialized thermometer to monitor.
This approach can achieve up to 99 percent effectiveness with flawless tracking. It’s closer to 76 to 88 percent successful with standard tracking. It could be helpful to use an app like Fertility Friend or Kindara to track your cycles.
Nonhormonal birth control is accessible to all.
Hormones are a component of many birth control treatments, but there are alternatives.
Since nonhormonal approaches are less likely to generate adverse effects than hormonal ones, they may be more alluring. Additionally, you might want to look at nonhormonal birth control options if you:
don’t require continuous birth control or engage in sexual activity frequently.
Hormonal treatments are no longer covered by your health insurance because you don’t want to alter your body’s natural cycle for religious or other reasons.
wish to supplement hormonal birth control with a backup option.
To find out more about each technique, including how it functions, how well it prevents pregnancy, and where to purchase it, continue reading.
Barrier techniques
The sperm cannot physically contact the egg while using barrier birth control methods. Condoms are the most popular choice, however there are other options as well, such as:
. sponges
. diaphragms
. cervical caps
. spermicide
Barrier approaches are usually available online or at your neighborhood pharmacy as over-the-counter products. Consult your physician as some may also be covered by your health insurance.
Barrier methods aren’t always as successful as some other birth control methods because of the possibility of human mistake. If you don’t want to take hormones, they are nevertheless practical and worthwhile to investigate.
The sponge
Plastic foam is used to make the contraceptive sponge. It serves as a barrier between sperm and your cervix and is placed into the vagina before to sexual activity. Spermicide, which destroys sperm, is intended to be used with this one-time use procedure.
For a maximum of 24 hours, you can leave a sponge in and engage in sexual activity as much as you choose. It’s crucial to keep in mind that you should wait at least six hours following your most recent sexual encounter before taking it out. A sponge should not be left in for more than 30 hours in total.
The sponge is 80–91 percent effective when used properly. That figure decreases slightly, from 76 to 88 percent, with normal use.
The price of three sponges might range from $0 to $15, depending on whether a nearby clinic offers them for free.
If you have an allergy to spermicide, polyurethane, or sulfa medications, you should avoid using the sponge.
The diaphragm
A diaphragm is constructed of silicone and has a shallow dome-like form. Prior to sexual activity, this reusable barrier technique is also placed into the vagina. It functions by preventing sperm from accessing the uterus once it is in place. After your most recent sexual encounter, you should wait at least six hours before taking it out, and you shouldn’t leave it in for longer than twenty-four hours in total.
A diaphragm can prevent conception 94% of the time when used properly. It is 88 percent effective when used normally. For the best defense against pregnancy, you should fill the diaphragm with spermicide. Before putting the silicone into your body, you should also check it for rips or holes.
In the United States, this gadget is available under the Caya and Milex brands. It can cost up to $90 for a diaphragm, depending on your insurance.
The condom
Male condoms roll onto the penis and keep sperm inside the condom during sex; they come in a wide variety of options, including nonlatex or latex, spermicide or nonspermicide, and they come in a variety of colors, textures, and flavors. Condoms are the only method of birth control that protects against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and they are also one of the most widely available and widely accessible methods. You can easily find condoms and they don’t require a prescription.
Male condoms can prevent conception up to 98 percent of the time when used correctly. “Perfect use” presupposes that the condom is worn prior to any skin-to-skin contact and that it remains intact throughout sexual activity. Male condoms are roughly 82 percent effective when used normally.
By fitting into the vagina, female condoms keep sperm from getting to your uterus or cervix. They are primarily composed of nitrile or polyurethane, which is excellent if you have a latex allergy. They can, however, cost up to $5 per, making them somewhat more costly.
Regarding the efficacy of female condoms, optimal use is approximately 95%, while average use falls to 79%.