Getting on birth control is a very personal decision that all women have to decide at least once in their lives. It’s becoming a very controversial topic today for sure, as we are learning to become more informed about the possible side effects and implications of taking it. Ultimately though, no matter if you choose to go on or off of it, the choice should be yours alone to make.

For today’s post, I wanted to show some non-hormonal birth control alternatives for you to look into. These are by no means a replacement for the advice of a physician, so use your best judgment and always seek professional guidance when in doubt.

Fertility Awareness Method (FAM); aka, The Rhythm Method

Practicing the Rhythm Method is completely non-invasive and doable. In a nutshell, women learn to track their fertility and time sexual activity accordingly. A benefit from doing so is learning to become in tuned to your body throughout menstruation and ovulation. Many women even plan things outside of sex after mastering the method. For instance, when it’s time to give a speech or presentation at work, they’ll plan it around ovulation when they’re most confident.
The method can be done in three different ways. First is by a calendar, when you track the days leading up to and after ovulation. Second is by observing changes in cervical fluid; the thicker the fluid, the closer you are to ovulation. And the third is by measuring your basal body temperature. Using a special thermometer, women are instructed to measure their temperature throughout the day. Small increases in temperature are said to indicate you’re on the cusp of ovulation.
Like with any form of birth control, the method comes with its drawbacks. First is the fact that a number of factors can affect both menstruation and ovulation. Hormones, diet, stress, illness, age, and weight all can through off any of the readings you choose. Sperm can also stay inside a woman’s body for several days, so you’re not exactly out in the woods yet even if your tracking is seemingly on point. Another bittersweet aspect of the method is that while it’s definitely empowering for women because it helps them to connect with their bodies, it’s a one-sided approach for birth control. Men can’t really do anything. It’s all up to the woman. (This isn’t to say it’s bad or that you should forgo it; it’s just a matter of fact that men cannot participate in the tracking.) And finally, it’s quite time-consuming. If you’re willing to put in the effort to begin tracking, then go for it. But understand that it’s going to require a bit of time and effort on your part before you get the hang of it. You’ll also have to remain consistent with it to maintain its effectiveness.

But it’s definitely something worth looking into; if anything just to get a better understanding of your body and it’s uniqueness.

Condoms

This one is a no-brainer, but sometimes a piece of advice needs to be repeated before it can really sink in. Male and female condoms are viable forms of birth control, and each comes with a specific percentage of success. With male condoms, a perfect use offers about a 98% rate of effectiveness, with female condoms providing around 95%. When it comes to using condoms, you have to be prepared. It’s easy for us to forget and just go with our instincts, so many times condoms end up being left aside or forgotten. So actually remembering to use them goes a long way in terms of effectiveness. Occasional use may only produce lukewarm results as far as effectiveness goes; up to 85% for male condoms, and 79% for female condoms.
Another thing to consider when using condoms is potential toxicity. Because condoms are neither medicine nor food, the government does not require manufacturers to print what materials are actually in their condoms. Many health journalists report that condoms more often than not contain toxins, endocrine (hormone) disrupting compounds, and allergens. All of which can potentially disrupt and harm the body, especially when used repeatedly. I’ll also add that female condoms in particular can be difficult to come by, and should be “practiced” with a few times just so you can figure out the best way to, well, put them into good use and get a hang of inserting them.

Cervical Cap (Diaphram)

This insertable device is similar to a menstrual cup. It’s a shallow cup that you use to cover the cervix and therefore block the entering of sperm. What’s good about the cap is that it can be inserted hours before sex, so no need to stop once things get going. It has absolutely no impact on hormones, but as always, question the materials that are used to make it.

Non-Prescription Substance

Another form of birth control worth looking into is spermicide, or nonoxynol-9. It’s a non-prescription birth control substance that can be found in a number of products, from lubricants and gels to foams and suppositories.  You’ve heard of insecticide (or pesticides) for killing insects off of crops; think of spermicide as one for sperm. On paper, it’s very good at either slowing down or blocking sperm from entering the cervix and reaching the egg. With perfect and proper use, the effective rate of spermicide goes at about 82%. This of course can be increased if it’s used along with a physical “blocker”, like a condom. In fact, some brands offer a condom infused with spermicide, making it a strong one-two-punch against getting pregnant.
The drawback from using spermicide is that it’s also like an antibiotic. It doesn’t only go after sperm; it also disrupts the membranes of otherwise healthy cells. Regular use over time can potentially lead to cellular damage, which we should avoid at all costs since it increases the risk of contracting STI’s, vaginosis, and imbalances in our microbiome (gut).

An honorable mention that goes with spermicide is the contraceptive sponge. It’s a foam-based, squishy, sponge-like “disc” laced with spermicide, and can be worn for up to 24 hours. Unfortunately though, this innocent looking contraceptive has a dark side that should be worth mentioning. Users have reported developing Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), a rare but notable result of frequent or improper removal of the sponge. It should also go without saying that anything containing a pesticide-like substance should not be anywhere near the vulnerable and delicate parts of a woman’s reproductive system!

Copper IUD

This option has an extremely high rate of effectiveness- 99%. The Copper IUD ensures optimal sterilization, and can luckily be removed at any time should you want to get pregnant or no longer feel comfortable having it. It’s convenient as well for women since there’s no need to take any pills or continue filling out prescriptions. However, as the saying goes, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
A glaring issue with having a Copper IUD is toxicity. Although the amount of copper in the IUD isn’t actually enough to create a toxicity, it can most certainly lead to it if one’s exposure to copper is already high enough. This can be confounded by things like copper-based plumbing, cooking utensils, supplements, and foods like nuts and seeds, shellfish, fish, organ meats, grains, legumes, asparagus, and potatoes. Signs and symptoms of copper toxicity include heavy periods, liver scarring, high or imbalanced levels of estrogen, damage to DNA, and chronic fatigue, just to name a few.

Honorable Mentions

These final methods are well worth considering, providing you take the time to weigh them in and really think of they’re right for you.

First are surgical procedures. There’s Tubal Ligation, which is often referred to as “Having Your Tubes Tied”. Ladies, this is when your fallopian tubes are either clamped, coiled, or strategically damaged (in a small section) to create permanent sterilization. The risks of Tubal Ligation are an ectopic pregnancy, ovary-related complications, and hormonal imbalances and symptoms. Then, for the men out there, there’s a Vasectomy. Which is when the vas deferens (the tubes in the scrotum) are either cut off or blocked. It’s a permanent sterilization procedure that, similar to Tubal Ligation, comes with its own risks. These include infection, swelling, and pain, and possible (but rare) imbalances in testosterone. With any invasive procedure, you should be making an informed choice with your partner and the surgeon. These are not like getting tattoos that can be covered up or removed (as best as possible)- they’re literally life-altering, so don’t treat them as something trivial.

And the second is herbal birth control. I’ll add that I have no experience in this, and cannot even claim as to whether or not they truly work. But I wanted to through these out in case anyone of you is familiar with it or knows a qualified practitioner that can better assist you. Two herbs that are said to function as birth control aids are wild carrot wild seed (Queen’s Lace) and Smartweed. Both have yet to contain any scientific data to back up their effectiveness. Dosage, timing, and sourcing should all be considered, so don’t buy any of these in supplement form willy-nilly off of the internet. Seek a qualified naturopath, herbalist, or holistic practitioner for assistance.

And there you have it! Some natural alternatives to birth control for you to consider. I was very tempted to include abstinence, but I think we’re all responsible enough to know the outcome of sex, and how to be smart when it comes to our sexual activity.

Sources:

[1] https://blog.bulletproof.com/non-hormonal-birth-control/