Facts About Types of Nonhormonal Birth Control

Over the Pill? Facts About Nonhormonal Birth Control

June 5, 2013

Facts About Types of Nonhormonal Birth Control

3 / 13

by Annie Gabillet 9

The Sponge

How it works: The Today Sponge, the only brand available, is a plastic foam sponge that contains spermicide. It covers the cervix while also continuously releasing spermicide. You know it from Seinfeld.

Success rate: Among women who have never given birth, nine out of 100 of them will become pregnant using the sponge. If these same women do not always use it correctly, 16 out of 100 will become pregnant. It will not impact your hormones.

Pros: You can buy it over the counter, and you can have sex as many times as you like during the first 24 hours of wearing it. It's also included in the Affordable Care Act's free birth control mandate.

Cons: It does not protect against STIs, and it can be expensive bought over the counter ($17 for a package of three). Plus, it can be difficult to insert or cause messy or dry sex.

3 / 13

by Annie Gabillet 9

What’s Your Reaction? 0 0 0 0 0 0

The Sponge

Cons: It does not protect against STIs, and it can be expensive bought over the counter ($17 for a package of three). Plus, it can be difficult to insert or cause messy or dry sex.

‹ Back to Homepage

popsugar live!

NOW

Watch POPSUGAR LIVE! Now

9 Comments

Molly14520470 19 weeks

Surgical sterilization may NOT last forever!!! I had this done at 27 right after the C-section of my 2nd child....at 36 I was diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy. Do your research because I don't wish this experience on anyone!!

kimmieb124 1 year

I tried the paragard IUD after giving birth to my daughter. Never again. I had mild cramping after insertion, which is normal, but when I got my first period with the IUD in, I felt like I was going into labor all over again. I never had bad cramps until using the IUD but with the IUD I was in so much pain that I was basically bedridden.

danakscully64 2 years

See a doctor!!!

MARIA14 2 years

Hi! i take off pills last september 2010 until now i haven't seen my period.What should i do to bring back my period. I want to have kid/s

danakscully64 2 years

I'm bummed about the failure rate of these forms, very scary! I wish I could be on the Pill, it just gives me TERRIBLE side effects.

EmEEk 2 years

ooh, ooh, I have a blog about this! http://birthcontroloptions.onsugar.com/

2 years

Does the pill cause your skin to produce less oil?

mrsld 3 years

Does anyone know the deal with the contraceptive films?

Natalie Love 3 years

Most of those sound uncomfortable to insert every time before sex, and have higher chance of pregnancy, so I probably won't try most. My mom used an IUD after giving birth to me, because after 35, being on the pill is not recommended. It's effective for 10 years and worked well for her, so I would probably go for that when the time comes. For now, I'm putting up with the side effects of the pills.