What is an effective, safe form of birth control without hormones other than condoms?
352796
I was just put on seasonal. The great thing about this pill is that you only have your period 4 times a year. There are little side affects like the others. Its a great form of birth control without the hormonal side affects. Its a new pill put out less than a year ago i think. Check with your doctor.
496348
I'm going to second the condom advice.  You can also use natural family planning but you have to be exact and have a partner who is willing to follow your lead.  You can get great information on Natural Family Planning from your library, a Midwife, and on the internet.\n\nCondoms have come so far.  My husband doesn't usually have issues with decreased sensitivity as the thought of a new baby waking us up every two hours takes care of that concern.
312015
BEST way to prevent pregnancy = don't have sex (abstinence)!\nHowever, if you do have sex:  \n1.Condom together with spermacide = best protection from STD's and prevents pregnancy, too\n2.Birth control pill - for woman (most effective)\n3.Vaginal ring - inserted into woman and stays there for three weeks (very effective, but some men complain they can feel it)\n4.DepoProvera Shot - given to woman (many bad side effects)\n5.New evidence shows the patch is not good\n6.Diaphragm - inserted into woman just prior to intercourse\n\nCondom is the only way to protect from STD's!
403888
Natural Family Planning ("the rythem method") isn't exactly the most reliable way of preventing pregnancy, but if you want info, look here:\nhttp://www.familyplanning.net/index-home.html
779162
Barrier methods, such as condoms, diaphragms, etc.\n\nOr, the natural family planning, where you learn to recognize the times of the month where you would be fertile (by checking mucous thickness, vaginal temps, etc.) and avoid sex during those times.
624530
I'm on the low-dose pill Mircette.  It's supposed to be good for some side effects, like breakthrough bleeding, because you only have two completely hormone-free days.  Being a low-dose pill, though, it is especially important to take it at exactly the same time every day.  I haven't had any side effects from it.  My first pill was Ortho Tri Cyclen and it made me depressed.  I also gained 10 pounds on Ortho Tri.\n\nThere's no birth control method that's perfect for everyone.  Even with the pill, everyone reacts differently to every pill.  It is very much a trial and error process.\n\nSome things you need to think about when you pick a method of contraception:\n\nDo you want a hormonal method?  Anything with hormones is far more effective than barrier methods, but it can also have side effects.  Barrier methods are cheaper and have no side effects (unless you're allergic to latex or spermicide), but they aren't as effective.\n\nCan you remember to take a pill at the same time every day?  If not, consider a barrier method or a non-pill hormonal method.\n\nDo you want something that you only use when you have sex?  If so, go with a barrier--like a condom or diaphragm.\n\nWhat can you afford?  Condoms are pretty cheap.  Depending on where you get it, the pill or ring can be quite affordable.\n\nHow long do you want it to last?  Usually you can get pregnant very soon after stopping the pill or removing the ring.  For barrier methods you can get pregnant anytime you don't use them.  The shot or implant will last longer.\n\nHow cooperative is your partner?  He would have to agree to using condoms.  Other methods of contraception are controlled by the woman.\n\nAre you and your partner both sure that you're free of STDs?  Only the condom provides protection from STDs.
208610
The best way to regulate cycles is The Pill.  Talk to you GYN about your options!
569801
No condoms aren't the safest alternative, abstinence is. If you don't have sex, you can't get STD's or anyone pregnant. However, if you're going to have sex, please please please wear a condom, always! \n\nAnd wear it the first time you put it in..none of that let's wait till I'm ready crap..you can get seriously sick that way.
467282
If you don't want to wear a condom, only have sex in a long term committed relationship in which both of you have been tested and you are 100% positive that she isn't cheating and that she is also on the pill.\n\nOtherwise, abstinence is always 100% fool-proof.\n\nIf you don't like either of these options, there are extra sensitive condoms out there.  They are thin to give you that added feeling but protect too.  Check out the web or go browsing the aisles (an adult shop has a lot of varieties) for different options.
696616
I am personally very wary of those birth control methods that make you have no periods for long stretches of time.  The hormones released during your monthly cycle are extremely important to keep your bones healthy and strong.  I mean just look what happens to women after menopause!  Their biggest worry is osteoporsis from not having estrogen and the other hormones associated with periods any longer.  That is why those estrogen replacement drugs are/were so popular.  I would reccommend thinking twice before using those no cycle birth control systems.  They could be causing more harm than they are worth.  I would rather deal with a monthly period now than have to worry about a hip fracture when I am 50.
75713
okay the whole birth control is wrong argument is lame. It is like saying, dont wear a seatbelt its stupid, if you dont want to die, dont drive, god will decide if you are to die. Anyway, I use several birth control methods, hormonal, spermicide and a good old condom. I use the nuva ring, which is great because it is inserted into the vagina and releases a constant stream of hormones for 3 weeks until you take it out. It is nice because with the pill, it has to be taken at the same time daily in order to maintain consistant coverage. I also use the vaginal foam, which helps kill the spem in case of accidental condom breakage. But no method is 100% If you are having sex there is always the risk of becoming pregnant.\n\nAnd FYI, birth control doesnt KILL a fertilized baby, it prevents the act of fertilization from occuring by having hormones that dont allow for a "fertilizable egg" to be produced, or preventing sperm from fertilizing an egg by either killing them with spermicide or blocking them from coming into contact with an egg.\n\nHonestly, are some of you for real?!?!?!?
400093
Actually its about 95% realiable provided u dont miss a pill (which means for more than 12hrs). Abstinence is of course the most reliable...not the most fun but yes most reliable :P. Intra uterine devices are good too but comes with side effects like increase vaginal thrush and increase chance of pelvic inflammatory disease. Condom with additional spermicide is a pretty good choice too. U may also wanna check out Evra patches...u patch it on and u only need to replace it once a week.
1038266
The condom, assuming it's used correctly with no holes or tears, catches semen to prevent it from entering the vagina.  The spermicide is an added precaution.  It kills sperm that come into contact with it, so it further reduces the chance of pregnancy.  Remember, of course, that no contraceptive method is 100% effective.  The more precautions you take, the better.  Condoms are also the only method of contraception that has been proven to help prevent STDs.  Some people, however, have irritation from using spermicide.  If this happens to you or your partner, you can use condoms without spermicide.
201996
The best birth control is that blue ring thing.  The ring is so small the baby cant fit through it to be born.
966774
Condoms *are* birth control.  Used correctly every time, they have a very high success rate--95-98%, one of the highest of any method.  They're reversible (no ill effects to your system if/when you want to get pregnant) and there's no danger of long term side effects (and we can't really say that about the Pill, IUD, depo-provera, etc.)  They can also protect you against STDs.  I think one (perhaps the only) benefit of the AIDS crisis is that condoms are probably more reliable than in the past.  Make sure you check that they haven't expired and don't store them in the heat.  Some lubricants can break down the rubber.  There is always some risk in sexual activity.  (As you can tell, I think there's risk in using some of the other methods of birth control too.)  If you can't take the risk (of a pregnancy/abortion and other consequences), then perhaps you shouldn't have sex.
706155
The shot!!!  I love the shot!  I only have to remember it every three months and after a year I was period and cramp free!!  It is extremely effective!  I can not take hormone based birth control so this really was the only option other than condoms.  Since my fiance does not like to wear condoms, this was my only option.  I was in your boat once upon a time.  My older is son is going to be 3 in March and my younger son is going to be 2 in June!
933823
As a nurse, I am going to tell you up front - nothing is 100% effective against pregnancy except abstinence.  That obviously not being the case, you should also be using a spermacide along with your birth control pills.  STILL this will not be 100% effective.  You could also use condoms...  Even with condoms, you're still at risk for pregnancy.  Of course knowing your partner is clean is essential.  Have you both been tested for STD's?  Please, take it from me, you DON'T want or need a disease.  BE SAFE.