What Is The Best Non Hormonal Birth Control

What Are The Kinds Of Non

Theres only one brand of copper IUD in the U.S. Its called the Paragard IUD. It lasts for up to 12 years.

You dont have to keep your IUD for 12 years though you can get your IUD taken out whenever you want. If your IUD is going to expire but you want to keep using an IUD, your nurse or doctor can replace it.

More Birth Control Methods

In this post weve outlined some of the non-hormonal birth control methods available to you. If youre interested in browsing the wider contraceptive landscape, check out our post on birth control options, where you can also see the history and effectiveness of a mix of different methods, including those containing hormones.

At Natural Cycles we believe in more contraceptive choice for all. This is because we are all different and require different methods to reflect our diversity. Our birth control app is just one of the non-hormonal birth control options available.

What Are The Benefits Of Non

The copper IUD is really good at preventing pregnancy, and its totally hormone free. So its a good option for people who prefer non-hormonal birth control, or cant use methods with hormones because of medical reasons.

The copper IUD can be used as emergency contraception a way to prevent pregnancy AFTER unprotected sex. IUDs are the most effective form of emergency contraception. If you get one inserted within 120 hours after having unprotected sex, its more than 99% effective against pregnancy. And you can leave your copper IUD in to keep preventing pregnancy for as long as you want, up to 12 years.

There are lots of other benefits to IUDs too. Theyre super convenient once your copper IUD is in place, you dont have to think about birth control for up to 12 years. IUDs are also one of the most effective methods of birth control you can get. Theyre more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. But if you decide you want to get pregnant, you can get your IUD removed whenever you want and your fertility will go back to what’s normal for you right away.

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How Does Hormonal Birth Control Work

Hormonal birth control contains a combination of the female hormones estrogen and progestin or can be progestin only. Hormonal birth control methods prevent pregnancy by stopping ovulation, increasing the thickness of mucus in the cervix as a barrier to sperm, and/or stopping fertilized eggs from implanting into the uterus. There are a variety of formulations and forms of hormonal birth control, including pills, patches, hormonal intrauterine devices , shots, vaginal rings and coils. Your reason for taking hormonal birth control, lifestyle, health issues and any side effects you experience may determine which method of birth control your healthcare provider recommends for you.

Can You Make Contraception Part Of Your Daily Routine

If youre a well-organised person with a reasonably regular routine, you have a wide choice of contraception.

This is because youre less likely to forget about your contraception by forgetting to take a pill or reapply a patch, for example.

You may want to use a method that you only need to use when you have sex, such as the male or female condom, or you may prefer a method that you need to take every day, such as the pill.

Or you may want to consider methods like the patch, injection or implant, which you do not need to use every day or each time you have sex.

The list below shows how often you need to use, replace or take each contraceptive method.

Once you have looked at the list, ask your GP or a doctor or nurse at your local clinic for more details.

Methods used each time you have sex:

• diaphragm or cap

Methods taken on a daily basis:

• the pill , but there are some types of 21-day pill where you have a week off each month

Methods replaced every week:

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Types Of External Condoms

• Latex: The most common. Only water or silicone-based lubricants can be used with latex condoms .

• Plastic : May be useful for those with allergies and can be used with oil-based lubes .

• Lambskin: May be useful for those with latex allergies. They do not protect against STIs because of tiny pores that could allow viruses to pass through . You can use any type of lubrication with these condoms .

Hormonal Vs Nonhormonal Birth Control

Hormonal birth control methods prevent pregnancy through the use of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. These include the birth control pill, implants, injections, patches, and vaginal rings. Some types of IUDs also contain hormones.

Nonhormonal birth control methods help you avoid pregnancy by preventing sperm and egg from meeting or by preventing conception from occurring. These include male and female condoms, one type of IUD, diaphragms, cervical caps, and contraceptive products such as sponges. Surgical procedures also count as nonhormonal forms of birth control.

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What Are Family Planning Clinics

Family planning clinics offer a range of reproductive and sexual health services to the general public. These include information and advice about contraceptive options. Clinic staff may also be able to prescribe contraceptive medicines, insert IUDs or contraceptive implants and refer people for sterilisation procedures.

Clinic services may have a cost so be sure to ask when you book an appointment.

• Find a Family Planning clinic near you using the healthdirect Service Finder.
• Call the Family Planning NSW Talkline on 1300 658 886 Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm or email on

What Are The Benefits Of Nonhormonal Birth Control

Nonhormonal birth control can have fewer side effects than hormonal birth control. This may be an advantage to people with some health conditions or other sensitivities. Its safe for people who smoke, too.

Individual types of nonhormonal birth control have certain advantages, as well.

Condoms, for example, are the only contraception that can protect against STIs and theyre available over-the-counter at many stores. Copper IUDs can prevent against pregnancy for a decade. And birth control gel can be used discreetly in the moment, without active participation from a partner.

However, keep in mind that certain nonhormonal birth control methods can come with their own risks and side effects. For example, spermicide could increase the risk of a urinary tract infection , while a copper IUD can cause irregular and heavy bleeding. You may wish to discuss these risks with a doctor.

Ultimately, the benefits and risks of nonhormonal birth control depend on exactly what youre looking for and which type you choose to use.

Theres no birth control that is healthier than all others. The right birth control for you and your health will vary based on your:

For example, if you have sex with multiple partners or partners you dont know as well, the healthiest birth control method for you might be a condom because it can also protect against STIs.

If you have a blood clotting condition or youre a smoker, the healthiest birth control for you could be a nonhormonal one.

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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 don’t 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.

Is Birth Control Without Hormones Safer

There are so many different types of birth control that you may feel a little overwhelmed when deciding which one is right for you.

Some birth control methods use hormones to prevent conception. These hormone-based birth control methods provide very effective protection from pregnancy.

However, you may be wondering whether birth control without hormones might offer you a safer alternative.

Before you can choose the right birth control for you whether its hormone-based or hormone-free you need expert advice from medical professionals who understand your personal health profile, your sex life, and your family-planning goals.

Here at Womens Healthcare of Princeton in Princeton, New Jersey, our all-female team of womens health specialists can help you make a safe, healthy choice that is best and safest for your body and your life.

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How Well Do They Work

How well a diaphragm prevents pregnancy depends a lot on whether you use it correctly. Six out of 100 women will get pregnant with the diaphragm if they use it perfectly every time. Most people make mistakes sometimes, so the typical rate is more like 12 to 18 out of 100. Thatâs more effective than condoms or other barrier methods, but less effective than sterilization, intrauterine devices , or birth control pills.

There are some risks that come with a diaphragm. The most serious one is toxic shock syndrome, a condition you get from a bacterial infection. You can avoid it by not leaving a diaphragm in for more than 24 hours. The device also can cause irritation or a reaction if youâre allergic to latex. And some women get urinary tract infections more often when they use a diaphragm.

Hormonal Birth Control Provides Continuous Protection And Other Health Benefits

For women who want their birth control to be “on” all the time, there are many hormonal options that provide continuous protection against pregnancy. Birth control pills, patches, shots, and vaginal rings are considered short-acting forms of hormonal birth control, while hormonal IUDs and implants can provide protection for many years. Both short- and long-acting hormonal birth control methods work by releasing hormones that change the body’s chemistry to prevent pregnancy.

According to Verma, many women are drawn to hormonal birth control because it can be used for more than just pregnancy prevention. Some women with heavy or irregular periods including those with conditions like fibroids, endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome use hormonal birth control to regulate their cycles or reduce ovarian cysts, while others like the option of not having a period at all. Verma adds that women dealing with hormone-related health issues like acne or mood swings may also turn to hormonal birth control for help.

But hormonal birth control isn’t without drawbacks. “There are safety concerns, particularly with birth control methods containing estrogen,” Verma said. For people with certain health conditions like migraine disease, high blood pressure, breast cancer or a history of blood clots, Verma said, hormonal birth control containing estrogen may not be safe.

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Are There Any Permanent Non

The only permanent form of non-hormonal birth control is sterilisation. This has a number of disadvantages though:

• They can still fail they arent 100% reliable

• They involve surgery there are risks to the procedures for men and women

• If pregnancy does occur, the risk of ectopic pregnancy is increased pregnancy can sometimes occur outside of the womb as a result of these procedures

• They are not easily reversed they can sometimes be reversed but its not a sure thing. If you want biological children in the future this might not be worth the risk

There are some contraceptives that you can keep using without stopping:

• The withdrawal method there is no reason to stop using this, except that it isnt reliable

• The rhythm method you can keep using this as long as your periods stay regular

• Abstinence or different forms of sex these methods can be used consistently but they arent reliable or practical for everyone

There are also non-hormonal contraceptives that last a long time :

• The coil this can last 5-10 years

• The cup this can last up to 1 year

• The diaphragm this can last up to 1 year

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.

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Should I Use A Fertility Awareness

Life stages or events that cause your periods to be unpredictable can make FABMs less effective in preventing pregnancy . You may want to consider other types of birth control, if any of the following applies to you :

• You recently started having periods

• You are close to menopause

• You have just ended hormonal birth control

• You have recently birthed

• Your periods are unpredictable

• Have a high risk of getting an STI

• You are not able to avoid sex or use a barrier method during days with high risk of becoming pregnant

• Your partner is not willing to participate in the FABM

If becoming pregnant would be dangerous to your health or be very damaging to your life, a more reliable form of birth control may be a better option.

The Birth Control App

A new player in the contraceptive landscape, the birth control app, Natural Cycles, offers a non-hormonal birth control option for the modern woman. Unlike traditional fertility awareness-based methods, the app is assisted by an algorithm that works to identify ovulation through a rise in basal body temperature which happens after ovulation.

Natural Cycles requires women to take their temperature first thing in the morning when they wake up, and enter it into the app. The algorithm then learns the unique pattern of their cycle and can find the fertile window and give green days and red days . Natural Cycles is 93% effective with typical use.

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How Does Birth Control Work

Birth control works to prevent pregnancy in different ways, depending upon the type of birth control you choose:

• Female or male sterilization surgery prevents the sperm from reaching the egg by cutting or damaging the tubes that carry sperm or eggs .
• Long-acting reversible contraceptives or LARC methods prevent your ovaries from releasing eggs, prevent sperm from getting to the egg, or make implantation of the egg in the uterus unlikely.
• Short-acting hormonal methods, such as the pill, mini-pill, patch, shot, and vaginal ring, prevent your ovaries from releasing eggs or prevent sperm from getting to the egg.
• Barrier methods, such as condoms, diaphragms, sponge, cervical cap, prevent sperm from getting to the egg.
• Natural rhythm methods involve avoiding sex or using other forms of birth control on the days when you are most fertile .

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How Effective Is Phexxi Compared To Other Forms Birth Control

According to data cited by the FDA, Phexxi is about 86% percent effective with typical use. . Planned Parenthood says this means about 14 in 100 women who use Phexxi will become pregnant.

Thats much less effective than the implant, an IUD, or male or female sterilization, which has about a 99% effectiveness, per the CDC. Even with typical use the patch, the ring, the shot, and the Pill-which range from 91%-94% effective-are all also more effective than Phexxi.

Instead, the new birth control method is more on par with other non-hormonal methods like male and female condoms, diaphragms, spermicides, and the sponge, at preventing pregnancy. Worth noting: The CDC calls these methods less effective than their counterparts.

Planned Parenthood also says you can use Phexxi with plastic or latex condoms for extra protection against pregnancy as well as STDs. Phexxi can also be used with a diaphragm as well as some other types of hormonal contraceptives, like the patch, Pill, or shot. You should not, however, use Phexxi with a vaginal ring.

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There Is No Best Birth Control

Verma says that healthcare providers have changed the way they talk to their patients about choosing birth control. “When the long-acting reversible contraceptive methods came out, there was a lot of excitement about them and a lot of pushing of these methods,” she said.

But these days, Verma and her colleagues have largely shifted their approach toward talking to women about all their birth control options , and then helping them decide which one best fits their lifestyle.

What works for some might not work for others, Verma said. “No one can tell you what’s doable for you.”

This resource was created with support from Evofem Biosciences.

How Does The Birth Control Sponge Work

The sponge protects against pregnancy in three ways:

• The spermicide kills sperm cells for 24 hours. You can have sex during that time without needing more spermicide.
• Itâs designed to trap and absorb before the sperm have a chance to enter your cervix, which connects the to the uterus.
• It acts as a physical barrier between the sperm and the cervix.

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