The Future Of Health In 2020, the US Supreme Court issued a law that allowed employers to compensate for the birth control methods of their workers. Because of this, the term ‘contraceptive desert’ became as relevant as it has never been in the US. The term refers to the countries or regions with limited access to birth control, making it impossible for all women in the country to avoid unwanted pregnancy.
In this guide, you will learn the way you can still get free or low-cost birth control in the USA.
Nonhormonal methods
If you are afraid of side effects caused by taking hormonal pills and are not ready to not have any intercourse, you may find nonhormonal methods useful.
These options are low-cost and quite effective:
- Condoms
If used in the right way, condoms protect from unwanted pregnancy in 85 cases out of 100. They are simple to use, convenient and do not cost much.
- Spermicides
Spermicides are gels, creams, or suppositories that protect from sperm entering the uterus. They need to be applied before P-in-V, but you need to be ready for some side effects.
- Diaphragm
It is a silicone cap that a doctor inserts into a patient’s vagina and puts spermicide on it. According to the statistics, the efficiency of the method is 94%.
- Cervical cap
Cervical caps function the same as diaphragms, but they are smaller in size. They can be used for two years, but it is important to use spermicides for higher protection.
You can find these birth control options in almost any drugstore throughout the country, but for some nonhormonal options, you will need a doctor’s prescription.
Hormonal methods
The advantage of using hormonal birth control methods is that they can regulate the menstrual cycle and help fight skin problems.
There are quite a few options based on hormones:
- Minipills and combination pills
- Implants that stop ovulation
- Patches that you need to change weekly so that they can stop the release of estrogen and progesterone
- Shots of a progestin for the ovulation-stopping process
Please consult your therapist to find the best birth control method for you.
Lifestyle
If you do not wish to make use of any methods described above, there are still non-intrusive ways to avoid getting pregnant.
These ways include the following:
- Outercourse
Without penetration, the chances of getting pregnant are 100%. Outercourse implies not having P-in-V sex, only sexual play like masturbation or petting.
- No P-in-V intercourse
If you fully avoid any sexual contact, including penetration, this is one of the safest ways to avoid unwanted pregnancy
- Being aware of your menstrual cycle
Keep track of your menstrual cycle and refrain from having P-in-V when you are most fertile. To define these days, you can take body temperature or cervical mucus as well as use a calendar.