How to Prevent Pregnancy Without Medication
Hormone-based contraceptives offer excellent protection against pregnancy, but they aren’t your only option.
For women seeking to prevent pregnancy, Dr. Kelly Morales and our team at Willow OB/GYN in San Antonio, Texas, offer many birth control options — including those that don’t require medication.
Dr. Morales considers your lifestyle, sexual history, and contraceptive needs to create a personalized list of recommendations for birth control. Depending on your needs and preferences, these may include options ranging from natural family planning to sterilization.
For birth control advice tailored to you, set up a consultation with Dr. Morales today. In the meantime, keep reading to learn more about preventing pregnancy without medication.
Option 1: Lifestyle methods
Lifestyle methods of birth control offer a way to avoid pregnancy without the need for medication or hormones. These methods mean making conscious choices and careful planning, but they don’t protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
The most common lifestyle methods include:
Natural family planning
This method, also called fertility awareness or the rhythm method, involves tracking ovulation. When you know the days you’re ovulating and fertile, you avoid having sex to prevent pregnancy. Natural family planning is about 76%-88% effective.
Withdrawal
Withdrawal, which is sometimes called the pull-out method, involves the man ejaculating away from the vagina. This helps prevent sperm from reaching the egg, but it is only about 80% effective.
Breastfeeding
While not a reliable method, breastfeeding at least every four hours a day during your baby’s first six months of life can prevent ovulation; effectiveness varies greatly depending on many factors, so be sure to talk to Dr. Morales.
Abstinence
Abstinence, or not having sexual intercourse, is also a lifestyle method for preventing pregnancy without medication. This method is the only way to have 100% protection from pregnancy, but it isn’t practical for most adults.
Option 2: Barrier methods
Barrier methods prevent pregnancy by stopping the egg and sperm from connecting. Some types also help protect you from STDs. These options don’t require medication or hormones to be effective.
Here’s a look at some barrier method options and how effective they are at preventing pregnancy:
Diaphragm, up to 88% effective
Sponges, about 76%-88% effective
Male condoms, up to 85% effective
Female condoms, up to 79% effective
Cervical cap, about 71%-86% effective
Keep in mind that for a barrier method to be effective at stopping pregnancy, you must use it every time you have sex.
Option 3: Non-hormonal IUDs
Most intrauterine devices (IUDs) are long-term progestin-based devices that thicken your cervical mucus to stop sperm from entering your uterus. But copper-based IUDs offer protection against pregnancy for about 10 years without medication or hormones.
They work to repel sperm, changing the way the sperm move so they can’t reach the egg. And if you change your mind and decide to start a family, we can remove the IUD, returning your fertility to normal.
Option 4: Permanent methods
Permanent methods of birth control, like vasectomy and tubal ligation, prevent any possible pregnancies in the future. The methods, referred to as sterilization, are extremely effective, providing nearly 100% protection from pregnancy.
We use some medication during the procedure to keep you comfortable, but once the surgical procedure is complete, you don’t need to take any medicines or hormonal supplements to ensure the birth control method works.
This method does not offer protection against STDs. And since this type of birth control is permanent, you should consider it carefully and with our team’s support before making a decision.
Learn more about your options for preventing pregnancy without medication by scheduling an appointment with Dr. Morales at Willow OB/GYN in San Antonio, Texas, today.