What is non hormonal birth control?

Non hormonal contraception simply means a method of birth

control that contains no synthetic hormones that work to prevent
pregnancy. Non hormonal contraception comes in various forms;
be that internal like the copper IUD, external barrier methods like
condoms or a ‘natural’ way of calculating when you are fertile and
avoiding unprotected sex at this time.

There’s been some interesting developments in ‘natural’ non

hormonal birth control methods in recent years. ‘Digital
contraception’ like the Natural Cycles app uses smart tech and
algorithms to create a method of contraception that’s been shown
to be 93% effective with typical use. Essentially, an updated
version of the historic symptothermal and cycle tracking methods,
known as Fertility Awareness Methods (FAM).

But it’s not all cycle tracking and working out your fertile days!
While tracking methods can make you feel more in tune with your
natural menstrual cycle and hormone fluctuations, all that admin
isn’t for everyone. The copper coil (IUD) is a non-hormonal long
acting reversible contraceptive (LARC), a great option for those who
just want to ‘set it and forget it’ as once fitted it can last for years.
And of course, there’s always the trusty condom – which unlike the
rest of these methods, helps to protect you from STIs.

Keep reading for a full breakdown of the many forms of non

hormonal contraception. To work out which method may work best
for you, try our contraception recommender, or book an
appointment with one of our lovely women’s health GPs for advice.

Intrauterine Devices
An intrauterine device (IUD) is a small device placed inside the
womb to prevent pregnancy. The hormonal alternative to the IUD is
the intrauterine system (IUS), which releases small amounts of the
hormone progestogen to prevent pregnancy. But how does the IUD
work without hormones?

The copper coil (IUD)

The copper coil (IUD) is a small T-shaped device made of plastic
and copper. It lasts for 5-10 years and has an overall rating of 5
stars on The Lowdown – one of the highest rated methods we have!
It works to prevent pregnancy by releasing tiny amounts of copper
into the womb which affects the motility of any sperm, and
preventing the fertilisation of an egg. Because of this, the copper
coil is also a form of emergency contraception which can be fitted
after unprotected sex. Check out our emergency contraception
guide for more on this.

This non hormonal contraception method could work for you if you
don’t want to have to remember to take a contraceptive every day
or every time you have sex. Sounding too good to be true?
Something to consider with the copper coil is its potential impact
on your bleeds – over 60% of reviewers on The Lowdown reported
having heavier periods. For more information on the copper coil,
check out our complete guide.

To have a copper coil fitted, you need to make an appointment with

your GP or local sexual health clinic.

The Ballerine IUB

The Ballerine IUB (intrauterine ball) is a newer non hormonal
contraceptive that works in exactly the same way as the copper coil
to prevent pregnancy. The main differences being it is smaller, and
made of 17 copper balls on a string that sit in a spherical shape.
Because of the type of plastic used and the IUB’s rounded shape, it
contracts and expands more easily with the womb muscles.

This little non hormonal intrauterine device has been on everyone’s

lips since it launched in Europe in 2014. We consistently get asked
when it will be available on the NHS in the UK, and the
unfortunate answer is that we don’t yet know for sure! The
pandemic halted plans to roll out the IUB in the UK, but we hope it
will be available within the next year. Trust us – we will let you
know when it is! For now, have a look at our guide to the IUB for
more information.

Digital Contraception
Ever heard of the term ‘digital contraception’? It’s an exciting new
development in non-hormonal birth control and fertility awareness
methods (more on those later). Digital contraceptives are essentially
fertility tracking methods that neatly store your inputted data in an
app, with clever algorithms that help you work out when you are
fertile.
Natural Cycles
The Natural Cycles app was the first FDA cleared (US) and CE
marked (Europe) digital contraceptive. Essentially, these
accreditations mean it’s the real deal. Derived from the
symptothermal method that’s been used for years as birth control,
Natural Cycles is powered by an algorithm that analyses your daily
temperature to work out your ‘fertile’ and ‘non fertile’ days, aka, red
and green days. Something that blew our minds is that Natural
Cycles is actually as effective as the pill with typical use (93%).

Using a basal thermometer, you measure your temperature first

thing in the morning when you wake up. You then input your
temperature into the app along with recording when you have a
period. You also have the option to track any other menstrual cycle
updates (like how heavy your flow is), mood changes, vaginal
discharge, sex drive and physical symptoms. The more temperature
and cycle data you log, the more accurate the data will be! This
allows the algorithm to get to know your natural cycle and predict
your fertile window around when you ovulate. If you forget to
measure, the app doesn’t get any less effective, you might just get
more red days. For those with conditions that affect temperature,
or those with irregular cycles, the app may not be able to predict
ovulation and therefore may also give more red days. Remember,
when you have ‘red’ fertile days, abstain from sex or use other
contraception such as condoms.

You can now use Natural Cycles alongside the Oura Ring, a smart
ring that analyses and sends temperature trend data straight from
the ring to your Natural Cycles app. This means you can track your
temperature automatically whilst sleeping, rather than manually
taking your temperature when you wake up. The ring is quite
pricey from what we can tell, but it’s a cool new development in
digital contraception and worth investing if you don’t want to take
your temperature every morning! Find out more about how the
Oura Ring compatibility works in our guide to Natural Cycles.

If you’re curious about this non hormonal method but aren’t sure
about making the switch just yet, some people choose to use
Natural Cycles alongside having a copper coil (IUD). This ensures
you will be protected from pregnancy even on ‘red’ fertile days,
whilst getting to know more about your body’s hormone
fluctuations, PMS symptoms and menstrual cycle. So if you’re
thinking about making the switch to digital contraception and
fertility tracking, ‘doubling up’ with the copper coil could be an
option.

Check out our complete guide to Natural Cycles for more

information, including a breakdown of that clinical effectiveness
number (yes, it really is as effective as the pill), how to use it, and
the pros and cons of this digital contraceptive. If you’re already
intrigued, head to this link for 20% off a Natural Cycles
subscription and free thermometer!*

*FYI – this is an affiliate link, which means The Lowdown will earn
a commission on any purchases made.

Clue
The US based period tracking app Clue is soon bringing out their
own digital contraception, which will only be available in the United
States. Similar to Natural Cycles, this birth control method is app-
based and will be FDA-cleared. From the little we know about it so
far, we can tell that it primarily uses period tracking to prevent
pregnancy. According to Clue and this study, their birth control
app is 92% effective with typical use. Stay tuned for more updates!
You can also learn more about Clue birth control reviews and side
effects on The Lowdown page.

Fertility Awareness Methods

Fertility awareness methods (FAM), also known as natural family
planning, means learning how to identify your own fertile window
through indicators such as cycle length, cervical fluid or discharge,
or daily temperature. It can also refer to natural contraception
methods like breastfeeding – yep, our bodies are amazing like that.
When using a fertility awareness method, it’s recommended you
use other contraception such as condoms or abstain from sex in
your fertile window.

Breastfeeding (LAM)
By following specific conditions, breastfeeding can actually be used
as a non hormonal method of contraception, also known as the
Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM). And when done right, it’s
98% effective. If you want to use breastfeeding as contraception,
check out our guide with more information on the three conditions
required:

Your baby is less than six months old

You are exclusively (or almost exclusively) breastfeeding day and
night
Your periods have not returned
Symptothermal Method
The symptothermal method is when you observe and chart your
menstrual cycle, cervical fluid,

waking temperature and other biological signs to identify the fertile

window in your cycle. You can do this using a good ol’ paper and
pen, keeping track of this information using a calendar or a log in
your phone. We would recommend, as one Lowdown reviewer
mentions, learning more about this method from a Fertility UK
instructor to ensure you are using it as effectively as possible.

While this method can be super empowering, something to

consider is whether you know you will be able to reliably track your
waking temperature and your menstrual cycle – so this may not be
the best method for someone doing shift work, who has an
irregular schedule or even a condition that can affect your ability to
carry out daily tasks, such as depression or attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Speak to a healthcare professional
for further advice.

Barrier methods
What is a barrier method? These non hormonal contraceptives
pretty much do exactly what they say on the tin: creating a thin
barrier between the genitals so that sperm cannot enter the womb
to fertilise an egg.

Male condoms
The most well known barrier method out there, the male condom is
a single-use barrier method of non hormonal contraception. Made
of thin latex or polyurethane, a condom covers the penis to catch
any sperm released during ejaculation. The biggest advantage of
using condoms is that they also help protect you from STIs. Check
out our condom FAQs for the answer to ‘can a condom really get
lost inside you’? We know you want to.

Fun fact: you can also create a makeshift dental dam from a male
condom for use during oral sex. A dental dam creates a barrier over
the vulva or anus to help prevent the spread of STIs. To do this,
use a new condom fresh from the packet, cut off the tip, base and
down one side so it opens up into one larger piece of stretchy
material, and voila! Never cut or split condoms otherwise, as you
will not be protected from pregnancy.

Female condoms
A lesser known and lesser used method of non hormonal
contraception is the female condom, sometimes called a ‘femidom’.
Another single-use barrier method made of thin plastic, the female
condom is a tube-like pouch that is inserted into the vagina that
can also protect against STIs. With typical use, the female condom
is around 79% effective, whereas the male condom is around 85%
effective.

The cap or diaphragm

The cap or diaphragm is a reusable non hormonal contraceptive
that is less popular now than it was around 20 years ago. It’s a
circular dome-shape, made of soft silicone, and is inserted into the
vagina similarly to a menstrual cup. For the cap or diaphragm to
be effective, it must be used with spermicide, and you need to
check that it is covering your cervix. Your healthcare provider will
be able to show you how to effectively use this method.

Permanent contraception
And finally, there’s permanent contraception. While non hormonal,
these methods do require a surgical procedure to take place.
Because of this, they are not routinely offered to younger people.

Female sterilisation
Female sterilisation, aka getting your tubes tied, is a permanent
method of non hormonal contraception that involves a surgical
procedure. In order to prevent pregnancy, the fallopian tubes are
blocked or sealed to stop eggs reaching the sperm and becoming
fertilised. This method is not routinely offered to younger people, as
it’s a non-reversible surgical procedure that will prevent you from
having any children in future. You’re more likely to be accepted for
female sterilisation if you’re over 30, or have already had children.

Vasectomy
A vasectomy (also known as male sterilisation) is a permanent
surgical procedure. It can technically be reversed in some cases,
but not easily – and also, what a faff. The tubes that carry a man’s
sperm are cut or sealed, preventing pregnancy by stopping any
sperm making its way into semen. So when ejaculation occurs,
releasing semen into the vagina, there’s no sperm to fertilise an
egg.

What’s the future of non-hormonal contraception?

Hopefully we won’t have to wait too much longer for the Ballerine
IUB to be rolled out across the UK, but what else should we look
out for? Natural Cycles have received FDA clearance after a proof-
of-concept study to integrate ‘wearables’ into the app. Essentially, a
little wearable thermometer that will continuously monitor your
temperature and other body signals to help protect you from
pregnancy by accurately tracking when you ovulate from your
temperature curve. This is great news for people who may have
been previously put off the method due to how meticulous you
need to be with manual tracking, sign up to their waitlist for
further updates!

You may or may not have also heard of Coso, which won the James
Dyson Award in 2021 for its clever design. It’s a reversible male
contraceptive that essentially heats up testicles using ultrasound
waves through water. Simply turn it on, wait for it to heat to the
right temperature, and sit for a few minutes with your testicles
dipped into it. Sounds… relaxing? The design is based on research
that found ultrasound contraception has been successful on
animals, but it’s not been tested on humans, so don’t hold your
breath just yet.

Smart RISUG is another reversible non hormonal male

contraceptive that research has shown to be a promising
alternative. Similar to a vasectomy, RISUG works by injecting non-
hormonal chemicals to partially block the sperm duct and
deactivate sperm before they leave the body.
If you think one of the many methods of non hormonal
contraception that are currently available may work for you, you
can always book an appointment with one of our lovely team of
women’s health doctors for further support and advice. Or, if you’d
like to directly compare either of these methods, try our
contraception comparison tool to see the data side by side,
including side effects, benefits and effectiveness.