Selecting A Non-Hormonal Contraception Possibility
Lots of the contraception strategies available on the market right this moment depend on hormones to stop being pregnant principally by suppressing ovulation. Hormonal birth control methods are among the many handiest, and hormones are secure for most individuals. However some folks shouldn’t use hormones due to well being circumstances and different might favor to not. There are some good non-hormonal choices.
Non-hormonal contraceptive strategies fall into a number of classes. First, you possibly can be sure that sperm and egg by no means meet by altering your habits so that you just’re training abstinence some or all the time or pulling out earlier than ejaculation.
There are additionally some IUDs that don’t comprise hormones. They work by blocking the motion of sperm towards the egg.
You can too use a technique that serves as barrier between companions like a condom, diaphragm, or cervical cap. These strategies be sure that sperm and egg can’t meet. By protecting the penis and stopping the change of bodily fluids, condoms additionally present safety towards sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Lastly, you possibly can have surgical procedure that blocks the vas deferens or the fallopian tubes in order that sperm and eggs can’t get to their traditional assembly locations. That is known as surgical sterilization, and it’s everlasting.
This web page goes to give attention to barrier strategies and surgical sterilization. Try different pages on the location for extra info on different non-hormonal strategies just like the copper IUD, condoms, and behavior-based methods (like celibacy and fertility consciousness).
Barrier strategies
Along with condoms, there are three barrier strategies available on the market that you can select from. The diaphragm, the cervical cap, and Phexxi which is an all-natural gel.
The spermicide has chemical substances that cease sperm from transferring. If sperm do make it across the barrier, the spermicide will be sure that they don’t go any additional.
Most diaphragms are available a number of dimension as a result of folks are available a number of dimension. You need the diaphragm to suit snuggly in you pelvis below your cervix with no room round it for sperm to get by. Which means it’s important to be fitted by a well being care supplier. The supplier gives you a prescription for the right dimension which you’ll be able to fill at a pharmacy. A diaphragm can final for about two years, however when you acquire or lose 10 or extra kilos, or you may have a child, that you must be fitted once more as a result of your dimension might have modified.
Diaphragms needs to be coated by insurance coverage. In the event you don’t have insurance coverage, a diaphragm will value someplace between $85 and $250. The spermicide is out there over-the-counter and prices round $10 or $15, however one package (a tube of gel and an applicator) ought to final awhile.
You’ll be able to put your diaphragm in earlier than you may have intercourse but when it’s been various hours, it’s best to add extra spermicide contained in the vagina. You must also add spermicide contained in the vagina every time you may have intercourse that day. Don’t take out your diaphragm to do that, as a substitute use an applicator just like the one you would possibly use with yeast an infection remedy.
You need to depart your diaphragm in for about 6 hours after intercourse to be sure that the spermicide has performed its job. Be mindful you possibly can solely depart the diaphragm in for twenty-four hours complete, so it’s important to do some math to determine whenever you to cease having intercourse.
Once you’re able to take away it, you should use your finger to seize the sting and pull it out. Wash it gently with cleaning soap and water and put it away for the following time.
Diaphragms are 94% efficient if used appropriately each time however solely 83% efficient in actual life conditions. That’s as a result of there are plenty of steps to utilizing a diaphragm, and folks generally make errors. The most typical mistake isn’t utilizing it each time you may have intercourse.
The small dimension is for individuals who have by no means been pregnant. The medium dimension is for individuals who have been pregnant however didn’t have a full-term vaginal start as a result of they’d a miscarriage, an abortion, or delivered through C-section. The massive dimension is for individuals who had a number of vaginal births.
You want a prescription for FemCap, however as a result of the sizes are primarily based in your historical past and never your physique, telehealth works simply in addition to an in-person go to. After getting the prescription, you will get the cervical cap by the corporate’s web site. The cervical cap needs to be coated by insurance coverage and obtainable at no-cost to you. In the event you don’t have insurance coverage, it’ll value $110. Cervical caps have for use with spermicide that often value about $10 to $15 {dollars} for a tube and an applicator.
To make use of a cervical cap, you set a dime-size dollop of spermicide on the within, a bit of extra on the surface, and unfold some to cowl the rim. Then you definately insert it, cup aspect in and push all of it the way in which up, in order that it’s protecting your cervix. You’ll be able to put it in forward of time and depart it in for as much as 48 hours. When you’ve got penis-in-vagina intercourse greater than as soon as, it’s best to add spermicide to the vagina with an applicator each time. Don’t take the cap out to do that.
Wait 6 hours after the final time you had intercourse after which take the cap out by hooking your finger by the removing strap and flattening. Wash it rigorously and put it away for the following time.
In the event you’ve by no means had a full-term vaginal supply, the cervical cap is about 86% efficient below typical circumstances. When you’ve got had a number of full-term vaginal deliveries, the cervical cap is simply about 71% efficient. Individuals who have had vaginal deliveries might wish to select a unique methodology.
It’s produced from all pure elements together with lactic acid, citric acid, and potassium bitartrate (also referred to as cream of tartar). Phexxi is available in pre-filled applicators that you just insert into the vagina proper earlier than you may have intercourse.
Phexxi works by preserving the pH within the vagina too acidic for sperm to outlive. You need to put a brand new applicator of Phexxi into the vagina each time you may have intercourse. If it’s been an hour or extra because you inserted the gel and also you haven’t had intercourse but, that you must put a brand new applicatorful in earlier than you do.
In the event you use Phexxi completely, it’s 93% efficient. In actual life conditions, nonetheless, it’s been discovered to be about 86% efficient.
Phexxi is simply obtainable with a prescription. When you’ve got insurance coverage, it might be free. For folks with out insurance coverage, it prices $389 for a field of 12 pre-filled applicators. The producer gives a reduction program that will make it cheaper.
Barrier strategies could be a sensible choice for individuals who shouldn’t or don’t wish to use hormones, since you solely have to consider them whenever you’re going to have intercourse.
They don’t seem to be as efficient as different strategies and do require some effort. You need to be snug placing your fingers inside your physique to insert and take away gadgets and/or utilizing an applicator to place gel into your vagina. Some folks discover diaphragms and cervical caps tough to insert and take away, however others haven’t any points with that. As a result of all of those strategies require a gel of some form, they are often messy. They’ll additionally trigger vaginal irritation and extra frequent UTIs. In the event you’re vulnerable to UTIs, talk to your health care provider about whether or not these are the proper strategies for you.
Barrier strategies apart from condoms don’t present any safety towards STIs.
Surgical Strategies
People who find themselves certain that they by no means wish to be pregnant (once more) or by no means wish to get somebody pregnant (once more) ought to contemplate surgical sterilization. These are procedures that tie or take away the fallopian tubes or the vas deferens to stop sperm and egg from assembly.
Keep in mind, to get somebody pregnant sperm have to go away the testicles, journey by the urethra, out the penis, after which journey by the cervix and uterus to the fallopian tubes the place they might discover an egg. Slicing or eradicating both the vas deferens or the fallopian tubes can forestall this.
Vasectomies needs to be coated by insurance coverage however can value as a lot as $2,000 with out insurance coverage.
Restoration may be uncomfortable. You might have to spend a few days sitting with ice packs on the world, however most males are totally recovered inside per week to 10 days. It is best to chorus from any intercourse or masturbation for the primary week. When you do begin having intercourse once more, proceed to make use of one other type of contraception till your three-month follow-up appointment. At this appointment, your supplier will ask for a semen pattern and take a look at it to ensure there are not any sperm.
In the event you get a vasectomy, your testicles will nonetheless make testosterone and produce sperm, however the sperm can’t go anyplace. They’ll merely die and be reabsorbed into your physique. Once you ejaculate your semen would be the identical because it’s all the time been. The consistency, quantity, look, and style is not going to change. It’s provided that you seemed below a robust microscope that you can inform that there aren’t any sperm in your ejaculate. Sexual efficiency, orgasm, and pleasure additionally don’t change.
A vasectomy is nearly 100% efficient. You might have heard anecdotes of people that acquired somebody pregnant after getting snipped, however that is very uncommon. As soon as your supplier has checked that you just’re not releasing sperm, you’re basically infertile. This process needs to be thought-about everlasting.
Whereas some folks do have vasectomies reversed, that may be a very sophisticated micro-surgery that usually doesn’t work. Solely take into consideration getting a vasectomy if you’re certain that you do not need to get somebody pregnant at any level sooner or later.
These are each surgical procedures which might be usually performed below normal anesthesia (which means you may be asleep throughout it). Generally these procedures are performed when your stomach is already open for an additional surgical procedure or for a c-section supply. In any other case, they’re often performed laparoscopically. Which means the surgeon doesn’t should make an enormous incision, and also you gained’t have an enormous scar. It must also imply that restoration is less complicated. Most individuals restoration totally inside a number of days or a few weeks.
Having your fallopian tubes tied or eliminated doesn’t have an effect on your menstrual cycle, hormones, or intercourse life. You’ll ovulate as traditional. As an alternative of touring into the fallopian tube, the egg will go into your stomach and will likely be reabsorbed by your physique. Nothing else in your cycle ought to change.
Each procedures nearly 100% efficient. They’re additionally each everlasting. Some individuals who have had tubal ligations have had surgical procedures to attempt to recreate the fallopian tubes, however that is very sophisticated and there’s no assure that it is going to be profitable. Solely contemplate surgical sterilization if you’re certain you by no means wish to get pregnant sooner or later.
Tubal ligation or salpingectomy needs to be coated by insurance coverage. In the event you don’t have insurance coverage, the procedures can value as a lot as $6,000.
Surgical sterilization is everlasting, nearly 100% efficient, and has no negative effects after a short restoration. Anybody who doesn’t wish to be pregnant or get somebody pregnant sooner or later ought to contemplate sterilization.
If a heterosexual couple who plan to be collectively for a very long time has determined they’re performed having youngsters and has began desirous about one accomplice getting sterilized, most suppliers would recommend that the person be the one to have the process. Vasectomies are easier and fewer invasive, they don’t require normal anesthesia, and the restoration tends to be shorter and simpler.
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