Non-Hormonal Birth Control Options

September 5, 2015 5:24 AM

I do not want to take synthetic hormones, have any of you had success with barrier methods like diaphragms and condoms that don't irritate sensitive skin?

I took birth control pills for years, and ended up getting recurrent leg cramps on one brand in particular. My doctor took me off of them and told me she never wanted me to take them again due to the risk of blood clots. I'm not interested in implants or hormones, shots, etc. I've been looking around the internet, and it seems my only options are to get fitted for a diaphragm, track my cycle and avoid intimacy on fertile days, and to use condoms. I do find the smell of latex to be revolting, and it irritates my skin. If you use a non-hormonal and non-implant type of birth control, what is it and how has it worked for you?

posted by anonymous to Health & Fitness (27 answers total)

Have you tried latex-free condoms? I find Skyns really good, especially the extra lubricated ones.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 5:45 AM on September 5, 2015 [3 favorites]

I'm not sure what you mean by "non-implant". Are you ruling out IUDs? Because the copper IUD Paragard is my birth control method of choice and I've found it amazingly convenient and, after the first few months passed, my period/cramps aren't any worse than normal.

I also tried the Today Sponge for a while. It was ok--you do have to run to the bathroom before sex to put it in, which is pretty annoying, and some people find that the spermicide irritates their skin. I didn't have that problem, but I stopped using them eventually because I decided to go with an IUD instead.

This assumes that you are in the US. Apologies if you're not.
posted by a strong female character at 5:46 AM on September 5, 2015

You could get a copper IUD, which isn't an implant (in the sense that an implanon is, although it does stay in you long-term). A copper IUD is non-hormonal, and will last about 10 years. The copper in the IUD acts as a spermicide. I have not personally used one, so I can't really speak as to how well it worked for me.
posted by gemutlichkeit at 5:47 AM on September 5, 2015

Another vote for latex free condoms. I use Durex Real Feel.
posted by veids at 5:48 AM on September 5, 2015 [3 favorites]

Also if you're considering tracking your cycle you might be interested in the Kindara Wink thermometer which should come out by the end of this year. It tracks your cycle on a smartphone app.
posted by veids at 5:50 AM on September 5, 2015

I used a diaphragm for years, with no pregnancies. However, diaphragms require the use of a specific spermacidal jelly (thicker than regular spermicide) which can be hard to find and which can irritate some people and increase the chance of yeast infections.

Non-latex condoms are excellent. They are a bit more expensive, but coming down in price and more widely available now than they used to be. They work just like latex condoms, only without the burning (for people with latex allergies).
posted by jb at 6:12 AM on September 5, 2015 [2 favorites]

One vote each for polyisoprene condoms and a non-hormonal IUD.
posted by hollyholly at 6:18 AM on September 5, 2015

I also came in to sing the praises of non-latex condoms! They are magic!!

Durex Avanti Bare. Enjoy.
posted by jbenben at 6:48 AM on September 5, 2015

I've used two methods. One is great (but expensive) condoms. Kimonos - a Japanese brand -- were absolutely not irritating for me.

The second is cycle tracking. Honestly, this is the easiest method I've ever used. No side effects and it takes about 30 seconds a day. I highly recommend reading taking charge of your fertility and then getting the Kindara app. I've done this for a year with no accidents and have learned a ton about my body, cycles, hormones, etc.
posted by neematoad at 6:54 AM on September 5, 2015 [2 favorites]

I have a copper iud. It's given me some cramps and my period seems to be a little bit longer (this might not actually be iud related though), but on a whole the not having to worry about birth control convenience outweighs the bad. The cramps aren't bad (never had to take advil or anything to relieve them), but we're annoying for me since I never used to get them.
posted by astapasta24 at 6:59 AM on September 5, 2015

Latex free condoms are my birth control of choice. We like Skyn over the Durex ones - more flexible. They behave the same as any other condom with no irritation.
posted by Jilder at 7:02 AM on September 5, 2015

Another vote for copper IUD. Best BC decision I ever made, and I'm lucky enough that it never altered my periods in any way or increased cramping. I got it specifically because I wanted to to come off hormonal BC and I love never having to give it a second thought.
posted by billiebee at 7:33 AM on September 5, 2015

I gave up on using hormonal birth control five years ago, at the age of twenty-six. My blood pressure was high, and my doctor wanted me to continue trying different brands, but I'd been on it for eight years at that point, on five or six different types, and I was tired of dealing with the mood swings that came from switching brands. I tried to get an IUD, but at the time I was unmarried and living in a conservative state and couldn't find any doctor who would prescribe one to me. I asked about diaphragms and cervical caps but I couldn't find an OB who would prescribe one of those, either (one said flat out that they didn't even have samples of different size cervical caps because women didn't want them anymore). So that left tracking and condoms.

We don't have skin irritation problems with condoms unless we use spermicide, so that wasn't really a concern, though I had found them drying in the past. Turns out that sex without the pill was much, much better for me--apparently I'd had chronic dryness problems, and this was no longer a factor at all without hormones. I did find it super terrifying at first, because I'd been taught that hormonal methods were more responsible. I got more comfortable with it as time went on, and read Taking Charge of Your Fertility at some point, which I highly recommend. We don't chart, but I found the knowledge of my bodily processes super eye opening.

These days, we use a combination of fertility awareness, condoms, and pulling out. Of course, it helps that in our 12+ years together, we've never had a condom break or an accident with pulling out--your partner's bodily control may vary. But we haven't gotten pregnant without trying, either. When we were trying to conceive, it took us five months, but that's mostly because I wasn't paying enough attention to my cervical mucus. The month I did, we got pregnant right away.

Non-hormonal methods have been really great for us. I feel so much better, on multiple levels. Mostly mood, but enjoying sex again is great, too, and so is not worrying about my blood pressure. Hope it works out for you, too.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 7:51 AM on September 5, 2015 [3 favorites]

Progesterone-only birth control pills do not increase your risk of clots, but they are less effective than standard combination (estrogen/progesterone) pills because they work differently.
posted by needs more cowbell at 7:56 AM on September 5, 2015 [1 favorite]

I actually am wildly in love with the cervical cap, which unfortunately is sometimes tough to find and isn't for everyone. It's basically a more form-fitting diaphragm, so your cervix does need to be a little sticky-outy for it to be right for you, and you do have to use a little spermicide goop.

But HOLY SHIT it's FANTASTIC, because

a) you can put it in once and leave it in for 24 hours and have as much sex as you want during that period,
b) it uses a much less amount of the goop than a diaphragm does so it's more cost-effective, and you do NOT have to keep adding more after each time you have sex,
c) it uses a little bit of suction to keep itself in place, so it's also a barrier method as well, and
d) it's small enough that the guy doesn't feel it.

There are a couple of small drawbacks, which I personally was more than happy to live with:

a) You do have to give your body a rest after 48 hours with it,
b) You do have to leave it in for at least 6 hours AFTER the last time you had sex before you can take it out,
c) sometimes that suction pulling on your cervix feels a tiny bit crampy after a while (There were a couple times when I would be at work, watching the clock and waiting until it was six hours after the morning sex I had and waiting for the moment I could get to a rest room and get it out of me), and
d) inserting and removing require you to have a fairly intimate involvement with your own anatomy (read: you gotta stick your hand in there far enough to make sure that it's sealed over your cervix when you put it in, and far enough to reach it and break the seal to take it out).

But sometimes it was so comfortable that I once forgot I had it in there for a full week, until a routine OB/GYN visit revealed it was still in there and my doctor bemusedly removed it. Leaving it in there for a full week makes you very prone to a vaginal infection, plus the thing STANK LIKE HELL when she took it out, so the 48-hour window is REALLY kinda important. But that's how comfortable it was.

It's not a common birth control method here, so it may be a hassle trying to find a clinic that actually offers it, and you do have to get "fitted" for it the first time. But I LOOOOOOOOOOOVE it, and two of the three times I've been in mutually-monogamous relationships it is my contraceptive of choice.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:36 AM on September 5, 2015 [2 favorites]

Durex Avanti Bare is no longer necessarily polyisoprene. Durex RealFeel is the same as the former non-latex Avanti Bare. Read the boxes carefully to be certain you are getting polyisoprene.
posted by Naamah at 9:04 AM on September 5, 2015

I used a diaphragm for years, and had no irritation or problem with it. The major side effect for me was... pregnancy. The diaphragm is estimated to be something like 92% effective with consistent and proper use, and I was one of the 8%. I would recommend combining the diaphragm with either fertility awareness, latex-free condoms, or both.
posted by RRgal at 10:37 AM on September 5, 2015 [2 favorites]

I'd also suggest latex free condoms, but also wanted to mention to make sure it is the actual latex that bothers you and not spermicide or lubricant? (As in, do you have reactions to latex bandaids, etc?) If it IS the latex then go latex free. There are lots of options. If it is the lubricant, than go non-lubricated and add your own (condom-friendly, non-oil).

Also the Today Sponge is still a thing. Similar to a cervical cap but one time use and softer. It does have spermicide though which may be irritating. (I have not used them.)

I personally get infections from most lubricants and have to use a specific kind. Non-lubricated condoms for us!
posted by Crystalinne at 11:38 AM on September 5, 2015 [1 favorite]

There's a new style of diaphragm out that might be of interest. I haven't used it, but it received a lot of enthusiastic press you can Google up.

I also wanted to recommend the Today Sponge. I am irritated by many, many things but not that. Super-comfy and easy to use.
posted by kmennie at 12:40 PM on September 5, 2015

I used the vaginal contraceptive films vcf- which are not as widely available, but it looks like you can order them online - and I was very happy with them. You have to put them in at least 15 minutes before and no more than an hour before sex (nope, that's three hours, sorry), and you need to use a new one for every subsequent sex act that could lead to pregnancy-- but I never found that all that aggravating. You can still get the contraceptive inserts too, which are little capsule shaped thingies you insert pre-sex; these made me burn inside so i can't recommend them. But the films were very easy and I didn't get pregnant using them.
posted by lemniskate at 12:41 PM on September 5, 2015

I'm allergic to latex, and use a copper IUD and non-latex condoms. Life changing things, both of them.
posted by culfinglin at 12:47 PM on September 5, 2015

The Pill gave me high blood pressure and made me feel bloated all the time, and I personally hate the physical sensation of condoms. Since my cycles are regular 27-day-ish ones, I'm a good candidate for and a fan of CycleBeads (I use the iCycleBeads app), in conjunction with a diaphragm plus spermicide, and withdrawal if we're in my fertile window. Never had an "oops" with any of these methods, when used together (and I've been doing the deed for 20 years this month).
posted by hush at 4:27 PM on September 5, 2015

I was coming in to say progesterone-only pills (mini-pills), but I see Needs More Cowbell has beaten me to it.

So I'll suggest the Mirena, an progesterone-eluting IUD which is more effective than sterilisation as a contraceptive, and will last ten years (or until you remove it). Also fewer side effects (in terms of heavy periods and increased discharge) than copper IUDs.
posted by tinkletown at 4:34 PM on September 5, 2015

I'm sure you're aware, but cycle tracking/rhythm method/standard days has a pretty high failure rate (like almost 20% with average use), so if that's the method you choose, you should double up and at LEAST do withdrawl every time as well.

I have a full on latex allergy, and there are some condoms that are fine. just keep trying new brands until you find one that works for you.
posted by euphoria066 at 6:49 PM on September 5, 2015

If your partner is good at it, withdrawal is way more effective than they told us in high school sex ed. I highly recommend it.
posted by metasarah at 3:59 AM on September 6, 2015

To counter/play devil's advocate on metasarah's response - your partner may be good at pulling out, but if you're a nervous sort you will end up all anxious until you get your period and drive yourself crazy with "but what if". I recommend taking your own peace of mind into consideration when you consider a method's effectiveness.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:22 AM on September 6, 2015 [1 favorite]

Just another option for a fertility tracking device - daysy, the latest offering from the people who did LadyComp and Pearly. As you obviously know from your question, you'll still need another method/abstention during your fertile days, but if you're very regular it's possible that this would only be 6 days/month. From their website:

The algorithm used in daysy is based on that used by the devices from Valley Electronics GmbH, which have been validated by over 28 years of use. The core fertility-tracking algorithm was extensively studied in 1997 in Germany. Over a period of more than 2 years, 686 users in Germany Switzerland, and Mexico were questioned about their experiences with the LadyComp and BabyComp devices. The study measured 10601 months and did register 39 unplanned pregnancies. Of those, 6 occurred during a “green” day leading to a method safety pearl-index of 0.7, and 33 occurred during a “red” or yellow “uncertain” day leading to a usage safety pearl-index of 3.8. This can be compared to the results of the 2011 study by J. Trussel, which indicates a method safety of 0.3 (slightly better than LadyComp) for the pill and a usage safety of 9 (worse than LadyComp). Experts in fertility awareness methods assess any adjustments in the algorithm to ensure that daysy has the highest level of performance possible.

So, 99.3% effectiveness in predicting when you're fertile/keeping you non-pregnant if you avoid getting viable sperm in your vagina on red and yellow days. And there's an app so you don't have to do anything extra to track things.
posted by you must supply a verb at 9:24 AM on September 6, 2015