Birth Control Without Hormones: What Are the Options, and Do They Work?

“Non-hormonal birth control is any method that keeps a woman from getting pregnant without affecting her hormone levels,” Sony Sherpa, MD told Mom.com. It’s ideal for women who don’t want to take birth control pills or who don’t want to undergo some type of hormonal implant.

In regular birth control pills, hormones are regulated. By regulating the hormones artificially, the pill is able to safely stop ovulation. When there is no ovulation, there is no egg for sperm to fertilize. This is how it prevents pregnancy.

Women may not want to undergo hormonal birth control methods because it could impact long and short-term fertility. Plus there are certain health risk issues to be concerned with that include an increase for heart attack, stroke, blood clots, and liver tumors.

Non-hormonal birth control removes these risks and allows a woman to regain control over her body.

Some non-hormonal birth control options are more effective than others. Let’s take a closer look at some of these options.

The withdrawal method
This is also known as the “pull-out method.” It is where the man takes his penis out of the vagina just before he ejaculates. When done correctly, the majority of the sperm doesn’t enter the vagina. However, “this isn’t a fully effective method as there is something called pre-ejaculation when semen that may contain sperm comes out before full ejaculation,” Sherpa explained. “Plus, pulling out the penis before ejaculation is not as easy as it sounds,” she continued. This method is recommended for those looking for a more natural option..

Using a condom
Condoms are one of the most popular non-hormonal birth control options out there. Male condoms are usually made of latex and are designed to cover the penis, thus preventing sperm from entering the woman’s vagina. Condoms are popular as they don’t require prescriptions and are widely available in stores. This makes them ideal for those wanting to enjoy intercourse without much hassle or cost. “When used properly, condoms are as effective as birth control pills in preventing unplanned pregnancy,” Sherpa added.

Internal condoms, also known as female condoms, are another option. “While not as popular as male condoms, female condoms also exist and are a tube made of latex with flexible rings on two ends,” Sherpa said.

Intrauterine device
An intrauterine device, or IUD, is a tiny T-shaped device made of plastic and copper. “It is installed in your uterus, which means that you need to go to a doctor or health care provider to have it installed or removed if you decide that you want to get pregnant,” Sherpa said. The IUD prevents sperm from reaching your egg and is an effective way to prevent pregnancy. As long as it sits in your uterus, it should be effective. Sherpa warns that side effects of an IUD include worse menstrual cramps, spotting, and discomfort or pain after the installation.

Choosing a birth control option is important for women to consider. You may also want to discuss options with your partner to make sure you are both on the same page, especially if you choose to use a condom or the withdrawal method since they require partner cooperation.

If you are averse to using hormones to control your ovulation cycle, then non-hormonal birth control may be an option for you. Mom of three, Amy A. Vincent, discovered that non-hormonal birth control was an option as she browsed the internet. It intrigued her, so she did more research and found that there were multiple options.

“I found out that non-hormonal methods were generally safe and had few side effects,” she explained to Mom.com. She discussed the matter with her husband, and they chose to go with the copper IUD. It’s been a good choice that has allowed her and her husband to enjoy intercourse with the peace of mind that they are still doing something to prevent pregnancy and without the exposure to estrogen and progesterone.