Other Birth Control Options?

[FaithAlone]

I was on the Depo shot for over a year but I just found out that the shot and all of the other hormonal types of birth control don't prevent ovulation %100 of the time and they also shed the lining of the uterus so that if an egg is fertilized (baby), it is aborted by a week-10 days old because the lining of the uterus has been made an unhealthy environment for it. I know that there are other threads similar to this one but my question is:

Is there a form of birth control that prevents ovulation %100 of the time or is not abortive in any way? Some people have commented that there is such a thing but no one can tell me what. I know about other forms like a condom and NFP. I'm thinking about doing FAM, but my husband wants me to make sure that there isn't an easier way first. If you have ANY info please let me know!!!

 

[charligirl]

I went though this dilemma a few months ago, I know of no birth control that prevents ovulation, your best bet is with the natural approach (98% effective if done properly with temperatures etc) or some form of barrier method.

I chose the diagphram, but to be honest we only used it once and then went for condoms... which has actually been ok.

 

[FaithAlone]

Do you know where I can get a basal body temperature thermometer or whatever it's called? And does anyone know if I can still use FAM if my periods are irregular from the Depo shot?

 

[Svt4Him]

Some pills do not cause abortions, so ask your doctor. They are out there, so you can get them if you need to.

 

[FaithAlone]

I have asked and there seems to be no known pill/shot/patch/anything that prevents ovulation all of the time. That's why I need to know a specific name if you know of one.

 

[Svt4Him]

I'll try, but the Canadian brand may be different in the States.

 

[Mayzoo]

I am in American pharmacy. I will do some checking, but to the best of my knowledge right now, no pill, shot, or patch are "guaranteed" 100% of the time to prevent ovulation. The are a dual mechanism method; trying to prevent ovulation, while making the womb inhospitable for a zygote to implant.

 

[InTheFlame]

FA - how effective does it need to be (ie, is it going to be horrible if you get pregnant, or just inconvenient)? Because the diaphragm is said to be fairly effective, about 90% I think. More if you use spermicide with it.

 

[kingzjewel]

well i know we use something called VCF which are 95-98% effective at preventing pregnancy. it doesnt stop you from ovulating but it does come in 2 forms: Vaginal Contraceptive Foam and Vaginal Contraceptive Film. the foam is ready to work instantly and lasts for an hour. the film dissolves in 15 minutes and works for 3 hours. we use these interchangeably depending on time constraints. i cant stand hormonal contraceptives. i know of one called the nuvaring that is supposed to be low in hormones and work great. im unsure if it prevents ovulation, but you can go to nuvaring.com and see what it says. hth

 

[Sascha Fitzpatrick]

I was talking about this with my bf the other night for when we're married (he doesn't like the idea of being reliant on JUST the pill - too many close calls when he was having sex, I think) and for us, we think the diaphragm is just too annoying and fiddly, for when we're married, and I don't like (actually, to be honest, I HATE) the idea of condoms in marriage (messes with my whole 'intimacy' beliefs thing - I think it strips the intimacy side away from sex, if you have such a physical 'barrier' in place - feels like premarital sex all over again in my opinion!)...

What about the male pill? How close are they to developing that? I heard stuff a couple of months back that some breakthru had been made, then zip, nothing.

I think we'll just use NFP - apart from the whole having to hold off for some weeks (which most girls do anyway for the 'crimson wave' week), it doesn't sound that complicated.

The mini pills are the most reliant when it comes to non-abortifacient forms of contraceptive, but they aren't as reliable, and if you are having issues with the 'non-ovulation' types anyway, well you wouldn't be able to use hormonal bc anyway, as that's its primary function.

I hope you do find something - apart from the male contraceptive when it comes in, I think NFP would be your only choice!

Sasch

ps. I wouldn't touch that film stuff with a 10 foot barge pole - heard some really bad stuff about long term side effects and it isn't all that effective...

 

[FaithAlone]

Hey, I don't think getting pregnant right now would be bad at all, but we're pretty tight financially and can't afford insurance. I know that God will provide. My husband is a little more uptight about finances and is freaked out about the possibility of us getting pregnant right now. I think this could be a good learning thing for him. We're going to try FAM even though it's going to be a while before I'll have regular periods again. The mini pill is even less likely to prevent ovulation than a lot of the other hormonal methods. I wish there was a pill that only worked by preventing ovulation and thickening cervical fluid, but I have a feeling that if the BC left out the thinning of the uterus there would be a much higher failure rate. I'm so thankful for any of you husbands/husbands to be who are really trying to work with your wives on this. I think it's very unfair to just leave everything up to the wife and not care as long as she doesn't get pregnant. That's not what it's about since we're only fertile less than 1/3 of the month and you guys are fertile every day. If you're really uneducated about this just ask your wife and do some research. I promise it will bring you both closer together.

 

[Oblivious]

What about the male pill? How close are they to developing that? I heard stuff a couple of months back that some breakthru had been made, then zip, nothing.

Would you trust a guy to take birth control? LOL! No way I would!

FaithAlone. I don't know of any BC that does what you're asking. I've been on the pill for 4 + years. It has some side effects but I believe it's the most effective form of BC out there (99% effective) besides abstinence of course. I understand your feelings as to way you don't want to be on the pill. Being as your husband is paranoid, just be careful with what you decide to use. A 10% chance of getting pregnant is too much of a risk IMO.

Good luck!

 

[redflag1980]

Hey,,,

I am an engaged woman and I was looking on some Christian website about birth control and all I found was that I was aborting the kid if I chose B/C....I guess I am just curious on what you ladies think!

Thanks!
In Christ,
Allison Marie

 

[alaskamolly]

We like children (the Bible calls them blessings, right? Ps.127!) and we aren't afraid of them (and yes, you can have them even if you're not rich, and still raise them with comfortable surroundings--it just means you can't go buy fancy adult sterio and car gadgets and stuff)...


But when we need to space a pregnancy, we use a combo of NFP and condoms. The NFP, which is a snap once you learn it, helps me know when my fertile week is, and then we just use condoms during that week.

It's really easy as pie, and has worked quite well for us, WITHOUT sticking hormones in my body (and all the resulting short and long term side effects they cause--ugh!) and WITHOUT having to deal with the guilt that I might be causing an abortion.


I'm glad this thread exists--so many don't know about the possibilities of hormonal b/c causing abortions--and that's a risk I don't want to take (and then have to answer for in Heaven). I don't care what some people say about tolerance--knowingly killing babies (or doing things that makes it possible) CANNOT be bringing God's blessing to a home. It's one thing if it's done without knowing, but it's another when one knows about it and continues. There is absolutely NO way to justify that decision.


Love in Him,
Molly
Happily Pregnant with #5 !!!

 

[Svt4Him]

Do you know what you call people who use the NFP method of birth control?





Parents.



Ok, my neighbour who just had the 5th child in a little over 5 years thought it was funny.

 

[Leanna]

You can get a basal body thermometer just about anywhere, like Walmart...

I read NFP is 75% effective... although if your cycles are very regular and predictable I bet the percentage is higher...

 

[katelyn]

FAM can work pretty well, even if your cycles aren't regular (mine tend not to be!). We used FAM for most of our two years of marriage (started out on the Pill, but there were too many side effects for me, plus we were a little concerned about the idea that hormonal birth control possibly prevents a fertilized egg from implanting), and we got only got pregnant after we stopped trying to prevent pregnancy.

My only advice would be that when you start using FAM, start out using condoms for a longer time during your cycle, so you reduce the chance of getting pregnant due to miscalculations as you get used to the FAM method.

There is also software that can help you calculate your fertile days, called Ovusoft - www.ovusoft.com.

 

[alaskamolly]

NFP/FAM, etc, are VERY reliable, IF the couple is very reliable.

The reason the reliability rate is so low is because couples use the method haph-hazardly, instead of as prescribed. It takes about 3 months to get yourself accurately charted--and so if you are messing around during that first 3 months and taking chances, then--duh--you'll probably wind up pregnant!

My advice (for non-Catholics of course!) is to use condoms/diaphrams during that initial 3 month charting phase, until you have a very accurate reading of your fertility week. From what I've heard from many other NFP couples, once you get through that initial 3 month phase, NFP becomes very easy and natural to do--it is not a pain in the rear or a hassle, and it's not complicated whatsoever. It's just that initial learning curve phase that you have to work through--but isn't that how most things are?

And, if NFP is of interest to you or anyone else, do sign up for the Couple-to-Couple League--those guys are just plain AWESOME and give you so much support and encouragement, and have the patience to answer all the little questions that beginners always have.


Warm Regards,
Molly
Who, personally, likes children and wants to have a lot!

 

[Rosa Mystica]

Do you know what you call people who use the NFP method of birth control?





Parents.



Ok, my neighbour who just had the 5th child in a little over 5 years thought it was funny.

Why do you insist on being so dead set against NFP? Seriously. Every time someone mentions natural birth control, you go and slam it. Maybe the reason why your neighbors had so many pregnancies was b/c they weren't taught the method properly? Sheesh. Nothing is 100% effective, you know (except abstinence, of course).

 

[Oblivious]

Do you know what you call people who use the NFP method of birth control?





Parents.




Ok, my neighbour who just had the 5th child in a little over 5 years thought it was funny.

I think it's funny. I would NEVER trust it as a reliable form of birth control, sorry.