Eleven Alternative Fertility Regulation Methods Without Hormones
Craving a break from hormonal birth control? No sweat, pal. Plenty of kickass nonhormonal techniques are out there to help you avoid that unwanted decision. Here's the down-low on 11 excellent alternatives to slot into your lifestyle:
Non-Hormonal Birth Control Methods - For All You Zany Folks
- Copper IUD
- Effectiveness: Over 99%
- Cost: $$$
Talking about a game-changer - the copper IUD (like the Paragard) is a T-shaped device that a healthcare provider slips into your uterus. This bad boy is more than 99% effective and revs up its action right off the bat. The copper it's wrapped in messes with sperm, stopping fertilization in its tracks. Long-term protection lasts up to 10 years!
Discomfort during insertion can happen, but the procedure usually takes less than 15 minutes. And while heavy periods might pop up for 6 months or so after insertion, it's all worth it for that sweet long-lasting protection.
- **Condoms (Yes, the Adventure Ones!)
- Effectiveness: 85-98%
- Cost: $
Condoms do more than just help keep things fun and safe - they also provide a solid barrier against those pesky sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Slide one on, and it'll catch the semen before it wreaks havoc. They're affordable, easy to find, and you don't need to plan ahead to use them.
Condoms are ninety-eight percent effective when you nail the technique every time. If imperfect practice leads to an occasional slip-up, the actual effectiveness drops to about 85%. By the way, non-latex and lambskin options exist for those who have allergies to latex.
- Spermicides
- Effectiveness: 72-86%
- Cost: $-$$
Spermicides are chemical substances you shove into your vag before the fun begins. These babies paralyze or block sperm, which keeps 'em from fertilizing an egg. They come in gel, foam, or suppository form.
Spermicides work best when paired with another barrier method, like a diaphragm or condom. It's only 72 to 86 percent effective when used solo, and that's if you nail it each and every time.
Most spermicides contain the active ingredient nonoxynol-9, which can trigger irritation. According to Planned Parenthood, this could amp up your risk of STIs. After applying spermicide, you should avoid washing out your vagina for at least 8 hours.
- Birth Control Sponge
- Effectiveness: 76-88%
- Cost: $
The birth control sponge (Elaine's personal fave) is a round piece of foamy goodness that you press deep into your vagina before each romp. The sponge contains spermicide and covers your cervix to keep an eggo from becoming egg-zact. When used correctly, it's 76 to 88 percent effective.
Inserting the sponge takes practice, but once you get the hang of it, extracting it is as easy as grabbing its nifty little fabric loop. But remember to leave it in for at least 6 hours after sex!
- Vaginal Gel
- Effectiveness: 86%
- Cost: $$
In 2020, the Food and Drug Administration gave the go-ahead to Phexxi, a sexy contraceptive gel. It sports lactic acid, citric acid, and potassium bitartrate, which lowers your vagina's pH to make it a sperm-unfriendly environment.
When used correctly, Phexxi offers an 86 percent effectiveness rate. Like spermicides, it's best when combined with another barrier method. And don't even think about using it after sex - it only lasts an hour.
PSA: A prescription is required to get it, and if insurance doesn't cover it, expect to pay around $22 per use.
- Vasectomy (For Dudes Only)
- Effectiveness: 99%
- Cost: $$$
Vasectomy is the ultimate birth control move for guys. This common procedure slices, seals, or blocks the vas deferens tubes that transport sperm from the 'nads to the peenie. No sperm, no baby! The procedure doesn't affect orgasms, but you'll still ejaculate -just sans sperm.
It takes around three months for the gel in the tubes to clear out, so don't expect immediate results. Your downtime is typically less than a week, and the effectiveness rate shoots past 99 percent. While reversals are possible, they're costly and not always effective, so make sure it's the right call before going under the knife.
- Tubal Ligation or Hysterectomy (For Those Seeking Long-Term Solutions)
- Effectiveness: 99% or higher
- Cost: $$$
Tubal ligation sews up or removes parts of your fallopian tubes, making it impossible for eggs and sperm to hook up. A hysterectomy takes things a step further by removing the uterus (and sometimes other bits, like the cervix, ovaries, or fallopian tubes). Both procedures are over 99 percent effective - hysterectomy being 100 percent effective - and require downtime, but a hysterectomy is a way more extensive and expensive procedure.
- Pull-Out Method (Because Why Not?)
- Effectiveness: 78%
- Cost: $
The old-school pull-out method is when you withdraw your penis before ejaculating to keep the fun seeds outside. It's free, convenient, and has zero side effects. But despite its popularity, don't expect it to serve up the same reliability as other methods.
The pull-out method is only 78 percent effective, which means around 1 in 5 people using it gets pregnant each year. Accidental expulsion can happen, and there's also a chance sperm might hitch a ride in the pre-cum. Keep your skills sharp with some pre-game practice -masturbate or engage with other forms of birth control to ensure you've got it down!
- Fertility Awareness Methods (FAMs)
- Effectiveness: 76-88%
- Cost: $
Fertility awareness methods monitor your menstrual cycle to pinpoint your ovulation days – aka the most fertile days of your cycle. This approach is also known as natural family planning or the rhythm method. Calendar, cervical mucus, and temperature methods are common techniques used to detect ovulation.
FAMs can help you stay in tune with your cycle, but they're only 76 to 88 percent effective for birth control and require constant vigilance.
- Diaphragm
- Effectiveness: 88%
- Cost: $$
A diaphragm is a shallow cup that fits inside your vagina to cover the cervix and prevent those pesky swimmers from reaching their destination. It's 88 percent effective but works best when paired with spermicide. The good news is that the same diaphragm can last up to two years, making it worth the prescription-required hassle. Remember, it won't safeguard you against STIs!
- Cervical Cap
- Effectiveness: 71-86%
- Cost: $$
A cervical cap has the same idea as a diaphragm, but it's smaller and stays in place for longer - you can put it in before the action. Just like the diaphragm, a cervical cap requires spermicide for optimal effectiveness. When used correctly, it's 71 to 86 percent effective. The challenge lies in properly fitting the cap and ensuring it stays put during the action.
BTW, you'll also need a script to obtain a cervical cap.
- When seeking non-hormonal birth control preferences, consider Phexxi, a contraceptive gel introduced in 2020, which offers an 86% effectiveness rate when used correctly.
- For a more long-term solution, consider discussing tubal ligation or hysterectomy with your healthcare provider. Both procedures have an effectiveness rate of 99% or higher.
- In alignment with the average effectiveness of fertility awareness methods (76-88%), it's essential to remember that constant vigilance is necessary for these methods to be effective in preventing unplanned pregnancies.
