In natural birth control method, you don’t need to use any medicines, pills or devices. These are completely free of these and low cost methods. However their effectiveness is round 75% to 85%. These methods are generally considered as Fertility awareness method or Rhythm methods which are completely dependent on your own body signs and signals.

7 methods of birth control to avoid pregnancy naturally

These are some natural methods to avoid unwanted pregnancy, as many couple wants to have kids only with planning. Before choosing any of the following method, be sure in your mind that none of them is 100% reliable and you still can get pregnant but the chances are relatively less. Natural methods are always cost effective with no side effects and if you use them properly, you can avoid getting pregnant also.

1.    Track your cycle (Fertility Awareness methods)

In this method you need to keep track of your monthly cycle so that you can calculate the most fertile days of the month. This are the days when you are at high risk of getting pregnant and are considered unsafe to have sex without using any contraception method. But the accuracy of this depends on how accurately you track your cycle and how regular your cycle are. It’s very common for menstrual cycle to vary and irregular, which makes it harder to calculate the fertile days.

Read here to know about how to track your monthly cycle in detail

For example if your cycle is of 28 days then the days from 7to 21 are most fertile days. Ovulation happens 14 days before your next period so you should avoid unprotected sex 1 week before 14^th day and 1 week after 14^th day. So your fertile window is around 7 to 21 day of your menstrual cycle.

If your monthly cycle is 35 days then subtract 14 from 35 which is 21 and if you calculate fertile window then days from 14 to 28 are most fertile and unsafe to have unprotected sex. This can be a great method to avoid pregnancy naturally if your cycle is predicted or you are calculating it accurately.

2.    Withdrawal Method (Pulling out)

Withdrawal method also called pulled out and it’s a great method to avoid pregnancy naturally. In this method men pull their penis out before ejaculation, like this semen will not get a chance to meet egg and pregnancy will not happen. For this a lot of self control and practice needed because only a single drop of semen can also make you pregnant. This method will only work if men withdraw before any ejaculation.

3.    Herbs as a birth control (Herbal birth control)

Some herbs work as a birth control and are used to avoid pregnancy naturally. But there is no research on that and these are not FDA approved methods. There are some herbs like

• Wild carrot seeds prevent egg form implantation and must be taken for at least a week after having unprotected sex.
• Cotton root bark can be taken everyday like a green tea to prevent pregnancy.
• Parsley, which is easily available and can be used in many ways to avoid pregnancy naturally.
•  Neem can be used by men to promote temporary sterility in them. It can be used by female also which can kill the sperm naturally.
• Some other herbs are castor bean, Thunder God Vine, and gossypol and so on which can be used as a birth control method to prevent pregnancy.

4.    Breastfeeding

If you are exclusively breastfeeding your baby like every 4 to 6 hours (Pumping milk is not countable) then this can prevent your body to release an egg which will prevent pregnancy naturally. This can work as an effective method to avoid pregnancy naturally. When you breastfeed baby exclusively on regular interval, your body stop ovulation. However, this method works only for first few months (5 to 6 months) only if your periods have not started yet. After that, this method is not that effective.

5.    Listen to your body signs like cervical mucus and Basal body Temperature

It takes lots of practice and observation for this method to work. Your body gives you some signals when you are ovulating like changes in the cervical mucus and basal body temperature. You can notice the changes in your cervical mucus throughout your cycle.

When you are ovulating, there can be lots of cervical mucus and it can look clear, stretchy or slippery. Before using this method as a birth control option, it is always a good idea to observe your cycle for at least six month and note down the pattern for calculating ovulation.

Same like cervical mucus your basal body temperature also changes while ovulation. There are special thermometers for checking basal body temperature; otherwise it’s very difficult to check this. You can keep a record of your temperature and try to take the temperature same time every day for an accurate calculation.

But again these are not full proof methods of preventing pregnancy and basically the idea is to avoid sex on most fertile days.  There are many other lifestyle factors that affect the production of cervical mucus and cause changes in basal body temperature which can confuse you. This is why these methods are harder to use.

6.    Some fruits and dried fruits to prevent pregnancy

There are some fruits and dried fruits which are helpful in avoiding pregnancy naturally. Some of them are:

• Citrus fruit which are rich in vitamin C are a great source to avoid pregnancy naturally. You can also take high potency vitamin c capsule also like 500mg three times a day to prevent pregnancy.
• Eating papaya can also help sometime. It will not let the fertilization happen and hence prevent pregnancy.  Some also claim that papaya temporarily reduce the sperm count so it can be consumed by the men also to avoid pregnancy.
• There are some more fruits and dried fruits believed to prevent pregnancy like pineapple, Ginger, Cinnamon, Dried figs, dried apricot, Neem and so on. But there are no proofs that any of them are effective in preventing pregnancy.

7.    Having no vaginal Sex

Yes, you heard me right. Having no sex is the only method which is 100% reliable till now. No other method whether it natural or not, can give 100% reliability of avoiding pregnancy. Having no sex means that you can’t have vaginal sex which will keep the semen away from vagina and it will not cause any pregnancy.

Some people think having no vaginal sex means no sex on fertile days but it’s ok to have sex on non-fertile days. But there are still chances of having pregnant. You can always talk to your partner take decision according to that. Remember, there are always other methods available, which can give you protection against pregnancy. Sex is an important part of a healthy relation, so in my opinion it’s not a good idea for long term to rely on.

Getting pregnant with irregular period? FAQs about irregular period and pregnancy

Things to keep in mind about natural methods to avoid pregnancy

There is no birth control method with 100% guarantee of preventing pregnancy. But when you use natural methods to avoid pregnancy, the risk is more. These are not approved methods to prevent pregnancy because there is no research on them.

• Natural birth control method don’t give protection against STDs
• They are only 75 to 85% effective if you use them properly.
• You cannot use natural methods to avoid pregnancy for long-term, for this you should always consult with your gynecologist.

The post How to avoid pregnancy naturally? 7 ways of birth-control appeared first on YourHealthyMom.

Combination birth control pills, also known as the pill, are oral contraceptives that contain estrogen and a progestin. Combination birth control pills keep your ovaries from releasing an egg. They also cause changes in the cervical mucus and the lining of the uterus (endometrial) to keep sperm from joining the egg.

Different types of combination birth control pills contain different doses of estrogen and progestin. Continuous-dosing or extended-cycle pills allow you to reduce the number of periods you have each year. You can check with your health care provider about the correct dosage of birth control pill for you.

15 most common Side effect of birth control pill

Even though birth control pills are very safe, using the combination pill can slightly increase your risk of health problems. Complications are very rare but it does depend on individual body and their lifestyle. The specific side effects vary widely among individuals, and different pills cause different side effects. Some of the most common side effects of birth control pills are:

1.    Spotting between period

During the first few months of using birth control pills, you may have some minor bleeding between periods. This is called breakthrough bleeding or spotting which is one of the most common side effect of birth control pill. It’s more common if you’re taking progestin-only pills.  It typically stops on its own, but report it to your healthcare provider if it happens, along with any other side effects.

2.    Changes in period

When you start taking birth control pills, you can feel some of the changes in your period as a side effect like light periods or missed period. This is because of the hormones they contain. Depending on the type of birth control, people can use the pill to safely skip a period.

Click here if you are looking for natural methods of birth control to avoid possible side effects of pills

3.    Vaginal discharge

Vaginal discharge is another very common side effect of birth control pill. You can feel increase or decrease in vaginal discharge or a change in the nature of the discharge. For some women pills can cause vaginal dryness also and all these changes can be because of hormone containing in pills.

These changes are not usually harmful, but alterations in color or odor could point to an infection. Check with your doctor if you feel like you are having an infection.

4.    Weight gain

Weight gain is a possible side effect of birth control pill. Birth control pills could lead to increases in fluid retention or water weight. They could also lead to increases in fat or muscle mass. However, some people may instead report weight loss when taking the pill. But there has not been enough research to confirm whether the hormones in birth control pills lead to weight gain or weight loss.

5.    Headache and Migraine

The hormone in birth control pill can cause you headache more frequently as a side effect. Birth control pill creates changes in hormone estrogen and progesterone which can trigger migraine in some women. However symptom depends on the dosage, type of pill and individual body.

6.    Breast tenderness

Taking birth control pills often causes the breasts to feel tender as a side effect, especially soon after a person starts taking them. Hormonal pills can also cause your breast to grow bigger. Wearing a supportive bra can help reduce breast tenderness.

4 stages of menstrual cycle, what is the normal cycle and what’s not

7.    Mood swings

Our hormones are responsible for changes related to mood. Hormonal pills are also a type of hormone which are given orally and can affect a person’s mood. These pill make changes in hormone which can affect a person’s mood and emotions.

8.    Melasma (Darkening of skin)

Some people can fell the darkening of skin due to these pills which is called melasma. Hormones are the primary cause of melasma – especially estrogen. Elevated levels of estrogen in the body increase pigment production, and hormonal birth control works by increasing the levels of estrogen in the body. That’s why melasma is commonly seen side effect with birth control pill.

9.    Low sex drive

These hormonal pills can affect your sex drive which is because of change in hormones due to the pill. Some people reported low sex drive and decreased libido while on birth control pill. It’s always a good idea to consult with your health care provider if you have any concern regarding this.

10.    Eye changes

The estrogen hormone in your birth control can cause eye inflammation. This can interfere with the eye’s oil-producing glands, resulting in dryness and blurred vision. Estrogen can also cause corneal thickening. This does not suggest a higher risk of eye disease, but it may mean that contact lenses no longer fit comfortably.

11.    Acne

Some forms of birth control pills can also cause or worsen acne, specially the pills which only contain progesterone. Even with the combination pills also you can notice an initial flare up as your body gets used to the new hormones.

10 reasons of late period if you are not pregnant

12.    Inflammations

Birth control pills can increase your risk of inflammation which can cause some health problems over time. Inflammations can also affect your body in the long run and can eventually lead to disease or conditions including certain cancers or arthritis. Increasing your cardiovascular health risk is also a side effect of birth control pills in long run. Always talk to your doctor who prescribes you these pills regarding all the side effects.

13.    Gallstones

Birth control pills in general could increase the risk of gallstones by increasing cholesterol levels in the bile and decreasing gallbladder movements. Some studies also found an increase in the development of gallbladder disease among women who were using oral contraceptives compared with those not taking these drugs. Both estrogen and progesterone have been shown to increase the risk of gallstones.

14.    Increased blood pressure

Birth control pills can increase your blood pressure from slightly to potentially dangerous. Birth control pill can also increase your risk of developing blood clot. Sometimes, if your blood pressure becomes too high while using the pill, you may need to switch to a new birth control method. If you feel any symptom of high blood pressure, it’s always better to consult with the doctor and check suitable option for you.

15.    Decreased testosterone

Mostly birth control pills contain the female hormone estrogen and progestin. They are often called combination pills. Many combined pills lower your testosterone. That’s the hormone that makes you want to have sex. Having less testosterone can decrease acne, but can also lower your libido. If you use non-hormonal contraception options, you won’t notice this effect.

Some of the serious side effects of birth control pill

Combination birth control pills increase the risk of certain conditions, which can be serious. Although these side effects are rare but there is always a possibility. They include:

• Liver disorder
• Heart-attacks
• Stroke
• Blood clot
• Severe headache
• Chest pain
• Blurred Vision or loss of vision
• Elevated triglycerides and pancreatitis
• Severe stomach pain

Birth control pills can lead to a higher risk for blood clots, heart attack, and stroke in women who smoke, especially if older than 35 years of age. Birth control pills should NOT be used by women who are over 35 years of age and smoke. The birth control pill does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases. Only a condom can protect you from sexually transmitted diseases.

Who should not use birth control pills

It is always better to avoid birth control pill to avoid serious side effect if you have following conditions or check with your doctor about the best option for you.

• If you smoke or have heart disease or other cardiovascular conditions, you may not be an ideal candidate for birth control pills.
• Birth control pills can sometimes be slightly less effective for women with obesity.
• Known or suspected breast cancer or cancer of the lining of the uterus, cervix, or vagina or certain hormonally-sensitive cancers.
• Pregnant or think you are pregnant.
• Blood clots
• Liver disease or tumor
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes affecting your circulation.
• Mental depression
• If you are over 35 and smoke

When to see a doctor

If you are taking birth control pills and having any of the following side effect, check with your doctor as soon as possible.

• Fainting
• Severe leg pain or swelling
• Blurred vision or loss of vision
• Chest pain
• Severe abdominal pain
• Difficulty speaking
• Two or more missed period and symptoms of pregnancy.
• Severe headache or migraine
• Severe mood swings or depression
• Shortness of breath
• High blood pressure

The post 15 side effect of birth control pills that you should know appeared first on YourHealthyMom.