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Pregnancy can come as a kick in the solar plexus if you’re unprepared. Using birth control, such as condoms, during sex is essential to avoid conception – something you learn during basic sex-ed at school.
However, many couples claim that condoms reduce the pleasure during intercourse. The question that stands is whether it is possible to avoid unwanted pregnancies without using a condom during intercourse? The answer is yes. Below are five different ways to avoid pregnancies without having to use a condom:
1: The Calendar Method
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There are two different periods during every woman’s menstrual cycle that are referred to as the ‘safe’ periods. In most women, these periods are during days 1 to 7 and the days 26 to 31. Making love during these periods effectively lower the chances for you to conceive since your body is not ready to be fertilized during these phases. It is extremely important for you to understand your menstrual cycle before following this method to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Your menstrual cycle may have different ‘safe’ periods.
2: The Pull-Out and Pray Method
Given by the name, this technique involves the man to remove his ‘manhood’ before he reaches ‘climax’ to avoid pregnancy. Since conceiving requires the sperm cells to reach the egg for fertilization, preventing sperm from entering your body can greatly reduce your chances of getting pregnant. This technique can also prove to be extremely unreliable sometimes and strongly depends on your man’s power of self-control.
3: Contraception Pills
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Regarded as one of the safest ways to ensure birth control, fertility control pills are extremely reliable and effective. These pills are to be taken orally by the woman before or after the lovemaking session (depending on the type of birth control pill you are using) to give you a 99.9% chance of avoiding unwanted pregnancies [1].
These pills contain a specific amount of hormones such as estrogen and progestin. These hormones are clinically manufactured and inhibit the body’s natural hormones from carrying on the menstrual cycle making it impossible for ovulation to occur.
Hormonal contraceptive pills can also alter the lining on the wall of the uterus making it impossible for a fertilized egg to be implanted. This technique makes it effective to be used even after you have sex. However, you need to act fast as this method is only effective within the fist few days of fertilization.
4: Copper T IUD
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This method requires an experienced doctor to insert a T-shaped device inside a woman’s uterus. Intrauterine devices prevent sperms from reaching the eggs in order for fertilization to occur [2]. Copper T IUD, also known as ParaGard, is different from other types of IUDs available in the market because it does not contain hormones. The copper in this device triggers your immune system making your chances of getting pregnant less than 1%. This method is extremely effective and long lasting.
5: Medical Sterilization
This technique gives you a 100% assurance of avoiding pregnancies. The drawback is that once you complete this procedure, it cannot be undone. Therefore, you need to be completely sure that you do not want to have children in the future. There are two different types of sterilization: tubectomy and vasectomy. Tubectomy is performed on women and involves the tying of the fallopian tubes to prevent the fertilized eggs from reaching the uterus for implantation [3]. Vasectomy is performed on men and involves the severing of the vas deferens to prevent sperm cells from reaching the urethra [4].
All the methods mentioned above have proven to be effective in avoiding unwanted pregnancies. You may choose a method depending on the type of contraception you require. Just remember that some techniques may be more effective than others but require more effort and commitment.
