Sexuality Stack Exchange Archive

Non-hormonal temporary birth control

My wife and I are not ready to have children yet. Condoms are fun-killers. We don’t like playing with hormones (and we already know my wife has some adverse affects to using “the ring”).

What non-hormonal birth control options exist for us to consider?

Naturally, we don’t want surgery, as we do intend to have children in the next 12-24 months, just not yet.

Answer 73

A Copper IUD seems to fit your requirements:

  1. The copper acts as a spermicide and does not have a hormonal effect. (Of note: hormonal IUDs are slightly more effective at pregnancy prevention.)
  2. Once the IUD is placed, it is virtually unnoticeable to either partner.
  3. IUDs can be removed via a simple outpatient procedure if you decide to pursue pregnancy.

My wife and I tried several types of birth control and this was the one we found most fit our (similar) requirements. As a word of caution, a copper IUD failed to prevent pregnancy in our case. No method is perfectly reliable.

Answer 136

If you don’t want the expense and insertion of an IUD, consider asking your doctor about the Diaphragm. It’s a little cup you insert into your vagina, forming a barrier between the vagina and the uterus. Used in conjunction with spermacide, it has a failure rate of 6%. You leave it in for a little while after sex (approximately 6 hours) so everything settles down before you remove it

Similar to the diaphragm, there’s also the sponge, the cervical cap, and the “Lea Shield” (a brand name, one-size diaphragm).

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