How To Use The Contraceptive Gel
- If you are having sex multiple times in 1 hour, you must insert a new applicator before each sex act.
- You can use it at the same time as condoms, internal condoms, diaphragms, and some types of hormonal birth control .
- You can use the contraceptive gel anytime during your menstrual cycle.
- The contraceptive gel is NOT effective when used after sex.
- Do not use the contraceptive gel if you:
- are or might be pregnant or are breastfeeding
- have had a history of repeated urinary tract infections or other urinary tract problems
- or your partner are allergic to lactic acid, citric acid, potassium bitartrate, or any other ingredients in the contraceptive gel
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Whats Wrong With Birth Control Pills
About 70 percent of all women at some point turn to non-permanent, non-invasive hormonal methods of birth control especially birth control pills. Still, the dangers of birth control pills include possible side effects like: cystic acne, anxiety or moodiness, breast tenderness, weight gain, or for some, difficulty getting pregnant after stopping the pill. Its so surprise that many women are looking for natural birth control methods instead. For women who wish to avoid unnecessary medical procedures, including those who consider one day having a natural child birth, this is especially true.
Although theres a lot of ongoing controversy regarding the pros and cons of using birth control pills, and every woman reacts somewhat differently, evidence suggests the effects of these hormonal medications can include both serious and minor reactions. Birth control side effects are common and may include:
- Higher risk of breast cancer
- Increased risk of blood clotting, heart attack and stroke
- Weight gain or changes in appetite
- Mood changes, including mood swings, increased anxiety or symptoms of depression
- Nausea, irregular bleeding or spotting between periods
- Rarely, benign liver tumors
- Breast tenderness or swelling
Not All Fabms Are Equally Effective
Methods like the Rhythm method or Standard Days method assume that the menstrual period always follows a certain number of days and ovulation happens on the same day of each cycle . A person trying to avoid pregnancy is instructed to avoid sex or use another birth control method on the days around their ovulation . These methods work best for people with cycles that are predictable and last 26-32 days .
Not all people with periods have 28-day cycles and ovulation may not happen on day 14 each month . Cycles vary for a number of reasons . If a method does not account for the uniqueness of a personâs cycle, predicting ovulation can be less accurate, which makes the chance of pregnancy more likely. Making a method a routine and always using it correctly may take time. Getting experience through practice or training may help .
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How Do You Use Phexxi
The manufacturer states it works immediately and lasts up to 1 hour, but you need to use a separate dose each time you have sex.
One of the critical questions you should always consider with birth control is whether the method you choose is suitable and effective so lets see how Phexxia lines up.
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What Is Natural Family Planning
Natural family planning is another name for the fertility awareness method. Women track their cycles every month using the two main signs of ovulation to either get pregnant or prevent pregnancy.
Some women will also use a third indicator, cervical size, to determine ovulation. For basal body temperature, you take and record your temperature relatively at the same time every morning. If it stays higher than baseline for more than 18 days without a period, then congratulations, you are most likely pregnant.
The temperature will drop down again right before your period if you are not pregnant.
To assess cervical fluid you can simply observe discharge in your underwear or better yet, feeling inside with your finger. The fluid will either be dry, sticky, creamy, and egg white slippery. The days leading to ovulation will have the egg white consistency and maybe even be stringy between your fingers.
After ovulation, the fluid becomes sticky and then dry. For women trying to get pregnant, this is a great time for sex. For women not wanting to get pregnant, the 3-5 days prior to ovulation you will want to either abstain from sex or use barrier methods.
If this is going to be your choice of pregnancy prevention, I would give it 3-6 months to gain mastery over charting and interpreting your records before using it as a stand alone form of birth control.
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Does Non Hormonal Birth Control Help With Periods
Well, period problems can happen for so many reasons. Its often a good idea to be sure what is causing the period problem you have.
A few causes are:
- Abnormalities of the womb and other reproductive organs like Fibroids or Endometriosis
- Period problems from hormonal contraception
- Irregular periods, heavy bleding or other period problem with no known cause.
So from the short list above, you will quickly realise that by treating some of the conditions mentioned, the period problem should get better.
But the most common type may be the last when there is no obvious problem.
And this is just the case for many ladies, they have an irregular pattern or heavy bleeding, but all tests do not show an abnormal womb pattern or other concern.
Many women whose cycle is just beginning cycle have this problem and we may often use the combined contraceptive pill to help make the bleeding pattern regular.
However, can non hormonal birth control periods help with periods? Lets consider these in different groups:
- Copper Coil/ IUD The Copper coil is a very effective form of contraception that does not contain hormones. So much, that is is the most effective form of emergency contraception .
- However, one of the copper coil side effects is heavy and irregular bleeding which some women may experience.
Other natural methods are:
Benefits Of Nonhormonal Birth Control
Whether youre on the pill, have a patch, or use a ring, hormonal birth control can be a total drag. It can cause annoying-AF side effects like bleeding between periods, boob pain, headaches, mood changes, and nausea.
Theres also a small chance that it could increase your risk of heart attacks, blood clots, or strokes.
You may want to opt for a nonhormonal method if you:
- have trouble remembering to take a pill every day
- dont want to change your bodys natural cycle
- experience bad side effects from hormonal birth control
- have certain health conditions like severe hypertension, heart disease, vascular disease, certain liver diseases, or migraine with aura
- Effectiveness: 99%
A copper IUD is a T-shaped piece of plastic thats wrapped in copper. A doctor inserts the device into your uterus through your cervix. Its more than 99 percent effective and gets to work right away. The copper is toxic to sperm, so it helps prevent fertilization. It can also prevent a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterine wall.
A copper IUD is a great choice if you want long-term protection it can last up to 10 years! It can also be used as emergency contraception for up to 5 days after you have sex without a condom or other barrier.
One downside is that insertion can be uncomfortable. Discomfort can range from a slight sting to WHY IS THERE A WASP IN MY VAGINA? But the entire procedure usually takes just 5 to 15 minutes.
- Effectiveness: 8598%
- Effectiveness: 7286%
- Effectiveness: 7688%
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Birth Control Sponge Risks
Disadvantages of the birth control sponge include:
- It may be hard to remove.
- You can still get an STD.
- Some women have a burning feeling or an allergic reaction.
- Spermicide can irritate your genitals, raising your risk of HIV.
- Leaving a sponge in place for too long could lead to toxic shock syndrome .
Pick a different birth control method if youâre on your period or if you recently gave birth, had a miscarriage, or had an abortion. You also shouldnât use the sponge if you get a lot of urinary tract infections or have had TSS before.
Best Non Hormonal Birth Control Alternatives To The Pill
Heres some fertility basics to keep in mind as we go through the following methods:
- Day 1 is the first day of your menses.
- Ovulation typically occurs between day 12 and 14 but can vary for each woman.
- An LH surge triggers ovulation.
- The eggs live for no more than 24 hours.
- Sperm can live five to even six days in the uterus.
To understand how your menstrual cycle works in further detail please read How Your Menstrual Cycle Works.
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I Felt Colossally Naive: The Backlash Against The Birth Control App
Natural Cycles was hailed as a stress-free, hormone-free contraceptive. Then women began reporting unwanted pregnancies
Last summer I had an abortion. Statistically unremarkable, yes, but mine wasnt because of a split condom or a missed pill. I was four months into a tense relationship with a much-hyped Swedish digital contraceptive, a smartphone app called Natural Cycles. I had spent my 20s on the pill, but hated not knowing whether my emotional state was down to artificial hormones or not. My boyfriend and I had been together for eight months, and I was desperately seeking something new, something that wouldnt make me feel so anxious.
Thats when the adverts started following me around on social media: glowing women reclining in Scandi bedrooms, all pale grey sheets and dappled light, brandishing basal thermometers and telling me how great it felt to get to know yourself better. Natural Cycles ads promised the worlds first contraceptive app, something natural, hormone free & non-invasive. I could start using it without a two-week wait for a doctors appointment and so, in a fug of hormones and frustration, I bought a subscription. I was sold on shiny promises, a sleek user interface and the fact that a former Cern physicist, Elina Berglund, was at the companys helm. But four months in, it failed. Berglund helped discover the Higgs boson but it turns out her algorithm couldnt map my menstrual cycle.
How Invasive Is The Pill
This depends on how you see it. You take a pill orally so it goes in your body, but it doesnt permanently stay in your body like a device does. Saying that when you stop taking the pill it can take a while for the hormones to completely leave your body.
These hormones can also cause some unpleasant side effects associated with hormonal birth control such as mood changes and a decrease in sex drive. The pill is 93% effective at preventing pregnancy with typical use.
Want to learn more about birth control effectiveness, including how its measured and the differences between typical and perfect use? Check out our post on birth control effectiveness.
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Tubal Ligation & Tubal Occlusion
Female sterilization by tubal ligation is a permanent surgical procedure where the two fallopian tubes, which transport the eggs from the ovaries to the uterus, get disconnected. Tubal ligation is considered permanent, because reversal is costly, difficult, and not guaranteed.
Female sterilization by tubal occlusion is a permanent procedure where a micro-insert is placed into each of the fallopian tubes. The micro-inserts work with your body to form a natural barrier that keeps sperm from reaching the eggs, preventing pregnancy.
Hormonal Birth Control Methods
Hormonal birth control options are very popular and are often prescribed by ob-gyn doctors more than any other type of birth control method. There are a few different choices that fall into this category, but they all work by using hormones to thin out the uterine lining, thicken cervical mucus, or delay ovulation. These types of birth control are often the most reliable.
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What Are The 3 Ways In Which Hormonal Contraception Works
How do hormonal contraceptives work?
- They can prevent ovulation .
- They make the mucus around the cervix thicker so that sperm cannot enter the uterus .
- They make the lining of the uterus thinner to prevent a fertilized egg from attaching itself.
Which of the following are non hormonal contraception?
Nonhormonal birth control is any pregnancy prevention method that doesnt affect your hormones. Some popular options are: Copper intrauterine device Condoms.
Calendar Or Rhythm Method
This method involves charting the menstrual cycle to estimate the most fertile times of each month. A person can use a calendar or menstrual cycle app, such as Flo, that automatically estimates a persons ovulation after inputting menstrual data.
Planned Parenthood recommends the following formula to estimate a persons ovulation window:
People should track at least 36 cycles to gain a better understanding of the time of their ovulation. If a person has cycles that are typically shorter than 27 days, this method is less likely to work.
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How Do Hormonal And Non
Hormonal methods prevent pregnancy mainly by stopping the ovaries from releasing eggs or by keeping mucus in the cervix thick so that sperm cannot pass through the cervix into the uterus. Thus, hormonal methods prevent the egg from being fertilized.
How do hormone based contraceptives work?
Hormones in birth control pills prevent pregnancy by: Stopping or reducing ovulation . Thickening cervical mucus to keep sperm from entering the uterus. Thinning the lining of the uterus so that a fertilized egg is less likely to attach.
- By Huma Farid, MD, Contributor
Until recently, people seeking hormone-free birth control have found few options available. The most effective and long-lasting nonhormonal option is the copper intrauterine device . Barrier methods sometimes are paired with spermicide to boost pregnancy prevention rates, or spermicides may be used alone . Apps and tests to track fertile days bring a high-tech sheen to the so-called rhythm method, but most ob/gyns do not recommend these as a way to prevent pregnancy.
Not until 2020 did the FDA approve a new nonhormonal birth control, Phexxi, which came on the market last fall. Should you try it if youre looking for a new option?
What Are The Disadvantages Of Non
Non-hormonal IUDs can make your periods heavier and cause cramping, especially in the first 3-6 months. And you may have some IUD cramps when you first get your IUD. For many people, these side effects get better once your body gets used to the IUD. So if you can stick it out for a few months, theres a good chance the side effects will ease up. Read more about side effects.
Its normal to have some cramping during your period with a copper IUD. But if your cramps are really bad and over-the-counter medicine doesnt help, talk with your nurse or doctor. Its also a good idea to call your nurse or doctor if youre still having bad IUD cramps after a year, or you have pain or IUD cramps when youre not on your period this can be a sign your IUD has moved, and they may want to check to make sure its still in place.
IUDs are one of the most effective and convenient ways to prevent pregnancy, but they dont protect you from sexually transmitted infections. So use condoms with your IUD every time you have sex to lower the chance of getting or spreading STDs.
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What Are The Different Types Of Birth Control
Women can choose from many different types of birth control methods. These include, in order of most effective to least effective at preventing pregnancy:
- Female and male sterilization Birth control that prevents pregnancy for the rest of your life through surgery or a medical procedure.
- Long-acting reversible contraceptives or LARC methods Birth control your doctor inserts one time and you do not have to remember to use birth control every day or month. LARCs last for 3 to 10 years, depending on the method.
- Short-acting hormonal methods Birth control your doctor prescribes that you remember to take every day or month. The shot requires you to get a shot from your doctor every 3 months.
- Barrier methods Birth control you use each time you have sex.
- Natural rhythm methods Not using a type of birth control but instead avoiding sex and/or using birth control only on the days when you are most fertile . An ovulation home test kit or a fertility monitor can help you find your most fertile days.
How Effective Is Natural Family Planning
Typically, if 100 women are using fertility awareness and monitoring their cycles as their only method of birth control for a year, 25 will get pregnant.
When used perfectly, between 1 and 9 women would get pregnant if 100 women were using this method for a year.
Natural family planning is a commitment as the signs of fertility needs to be monitored daily. It is also important to monitor your body for at least 3 months to see the pattern before you start relying on this method for birth control. This is a great method for women who have regular periods and are committed to learning about their bodies and using this to prevent pregnancy. It also requires you to be very good at avoiding having sex or using condoms during your fertile window.
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