I’m really worried that even though I always use condoms, I still have a high risk of getting pregnant. And I worrying about this too much, or is there more I can do to prevent pregnancy? (The idea of birth control pills scare me because I don’t want to mess up my hormones or anything)
Always using condoms is terrific, but you’re a total smarty-pants for wanting to protect yourself even more. Indeed, there are a few things you can do to further prevent unintended pregnancy. When it comes to condoms, using them as correctly as possible will reduce the risk of failure. This includes putting the condom on before any penis-vulva contact, using a water-based or silicone lubricant inside and outside the condom to reduce friction, applying the condom correctly, and checking during sex to make sure it hasn’t broken or slipped off.
But as you know, condoms aren’t 100% effective, even when used perfectly, so we do recommend combining them with another method. It’s totally fine to avoid hormones, and luckily there are many hormone-free options that will add some extra pregnancy-preventing oomph to condoms.
The most reliable form of non-hormonal birth control is the ParaGard (copper-T) IUD – it’s more than 99% effective. Other hormone-free methods include Natural Family Planning / Rhythm Method (avoid sex or be extra careful with condoms during your “fertile” days), using a separate spermicide (not just spermicidal condoms), diaphragms, cervical caps, and withdrawal (pulling out before ejaculation). However, these methods aren’t super reliable on their own, so if you’re serious about pregnancy prevention, combine these with a condom every time.
You also might want to consider keeping a box of emergency contraception (the morning-after pill) handy, just in case a condom breaks. Yes, it’s hormonal, but because it’s reserved for emergencies when your other method(s) fails, you’re only exposed to hormones for a short amount of time.
So keep doing your condom thang — especially because condoms will also protect you against STDs — but if you want extra pregnancy protection, consider adding another method into the mix. As we say here at Planned Parenthood: better double safe than double sorry.
When it comes to birth control, why doesn’t PP ever discuss the fertility awareness method? Used correctly, it’s 100% effective (as you can’t get pregnant if you aren’t having sex when ovulating). I think it’s another great contraceptive method, especially for women who are sensitive to hormones/don’t react well to them, and allows for a woman to be more in tune with her body and be proactive about her gynecological health.
We do discuss it! Fertility awareness-based methods or FAMs (also called “natural family planning”) are when you carefully track your menstrual cycle and/or other body signals to know when you’re ovulating, and then avoid unprotected vaginal sex during that time. Like you mentioned, it can be a great way to avoid pregnancy without using hormones, and it’s a great way to get in touch with how your body works, too.
But — and this is a big ol’ “but” — fertility awareness methods have a higher failure rate than many other kinds of birth control. One reason why it’s hard to rely on FAMs is because sperm can live inside a woman’s body for up to six days, so it’s actually possible to become pregnant even if you’re not ovulating right when sex occurs. No birth control method is 100% effective, even when used correctly (the exception, of course, being round-the-clock abstinence from vaginal sex).
FAMs require you to keep careful records, and avoid sex (or use another birth control method) for at least 10 days per menstrual cycle. It can take lots of patience and time to learn to use FAMs correctly, and many people find that kind of commitment doesn’t fit into their busy lifestyles. It’s also not very effective for people with irregular periods (especially teens), frequent abnormal discharge, or a partner who’s not committed to using FAMs correctly and consistently. And FAMs don’t prevent the spread of STDs, so that’s something else to consider.
If none of these things are issues for you, FAMs are a fine option. I’m all about people being proactive about their health, but that includes being realistic about what makes FAMs most effective and whether or not that will jive with their day-to-day lives. It’s great that you’ve found a method you’re stoked about, and many other people use and love it too, but the reason it’s not discussed as often as other methods is because it tends to have a higher failure rate in practice.
Birth control methods are like people (and snowflakes): no two are alike. And the best method is the one that works best for you.
