10 Non Hormonal Birth Control Methods

10 Non-Hormonal Birth Control Methods



Hormonal birth control is perfectly safe for most women, and it may even have health perks: The Pill, for example, has been shown to lower your risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer, says Eve Espey, MD, chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of New Mexico. But if the hormonal methods make you feel lousy—maybe you've noticed mood swings or a dampened sex drive—or you'd just rather avoid them, other options abound. Here are 10 to explore and discuss with your doctor.

The method: Male condom

How to use it: Made of thin latex or plastic, condoms are worn on the penis during intercourse.

Effectiveness: Pretty good if you use them correctly; only 2 women out of 100 will get pregnant if they always use condoms perfectly. Not so perfect? About 18 out of 100 women will get pregnant in a year with typical use.

The good: They're simple to use, inexpensive, widely available, and protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

The bad: The failure rate is high, and they can make sex feel less spontaneous. "Plus, some people can't stand the way they feel," says Espey. It's also worth noting that you or your partner could be allergic to latex.

The method: Female condom

How to use it: Not as popular as the male condom, the female condom is a plastic pouch that's inserted into the vagina right before intercourse. It has flexible rings at the ends—one at the closed end keeps it in place while the ring at the open end stays outside of the vagina during sex.

Effectiveness: Similar rate to the male condom—about 79% effective with typical use.  The good: It's woman controlled, and it prevents STIs.

The bad: "It's a project," says Espey. "Sometimes you can feel it, and it tends to move during intercourse." Also, it can irritate your vagina or your partner's penis.