Contraception double up

LegacyUser

i am on the pill and have been relying on this as the main form of contraception. I take it religiously and i am aware of its effectiveness, and also its limitations. Me and my bf have been together for a year and have been STI checked. We try to use condoms but we have quite a bit of trouble with them to be honest. I would like, purely for my own piece of mind, if i could "double up" on contraception, and what i am wondering is if any of the natural forms of birth control can be used in conjunction with the pill? for example the temperature method? ..or because the pill is actually designed to prevent an egg from being released does this in itslef mean that you are not ovulating at any time and therefore temperature will not change? I was also contemplating buying one of those urine analysis kits which are designed to detect the womans most fertile time (in order to concieve, ive never seen one designed to prevent pregnancy but i assume it could work both ways) so that we could avoid sex at this time but can any one tell me would they work if you were on the pill? as far as i know they again measure hormone changes, designed to be detected during ovulation.
Any help/information appreciated..

fearcruach

When used correctly the pill has 99.7% efficacy. So if you take it religiously then there shouldn't be any problem.

However, you are right about the temperature and mucous methods of natural birth control, i.e. they won't work as ovulation is suppressed by the pill.

As for the urine analysis kit, it won't work as it is designed to measure hormone levels that are only present during a normal menstrual cycle.

Your best bet for "doubling - up" is the pill and condoms.

Due to the very high success rate of the pill, I wouldn't worry about having to double up. The chances of you getting pregnant are tiny.

Hope this helps.

Tuesday_Girl

You are right, since the methods you mentioned determine when ovulation has taken place and a woman is fertile they would not work as a method of contraception while you are taking the pill.

If you are on the pill and taking it correctly then you will in theory never be fertile, but if you do want to use a backup then I think it would have to be a barrier method.

LegacyUser

hmmm.
ok thanks. I know that the pill is very reliable, but sometimes I still get worried. Would be alot more worried if I came off it and relied on natural methods alone though!
off the original topic I have to say that I find it very strange in this day and age that no one has come up with a form of contraception that is 100% reliable and yet reversible. When you see the amazing advances that have happened in the area of in-vitro fertilization, cloning, medicine in general really, it doesnt seem too "out there" comparitively. What are others opinions on this? Many years off happening ye reckon?! ill probably be about 90 and more worried about having a heart attack during sex than conception!!!

fearcruach

There will never be a 100% effective form of reversible contraception. Something can always happen to throw the contraception off, whether it be unforeseen hormonal changes in the body or an interaction with a drug or chemical, there will always be the tiniest chance. The Pill is doing pretty good though. 99.7% - I like them odds

Unregistered.

Unregistered wrote: »

I find it very strange in this day and age that no one has come up with a form of contraception that is 100% reliable and yet

What's strange about this? I find it hard to think of somehting that IS 100% reliable and reversible, so I do not see your point of view here.
IMO, the pill will be the best bet as far as convenience goes (which is what i think you mean by "reversible"). Ha, after all, pregnancy isn't 100 % reliable and reversible.


Back on topic... I know you were looking for ideas down the natural route, but you also mentioned about problems with condoms, so I was gonna suggest using a spermicidal lubricant. I am unawares of any side effect etc of using these, so you'd have to do the googling yourself.

U.

LegacyUser

by reversible i meant just that.. can be reversed. for example a vasectomy as a form of contraception has a much higher success rate in preventing pregnancy than any other form of contraception, as does tubal ligation. However no one actually planning to have a family when the time is right is going to opt for either of these two options as they may not be reversible.
Ok mayby i was being a little hopeful with 100%.. as all operations still have a failure rate, but i think we are still waiting for a form of contraception that is super reliable and void of side effects.. i do believe it is definately on the cards though, albeit a long way off yet.

A Primal Nut

fearcruach wrote: »

There will never be a 100% effective form of reversible contraception. Something can always happen to throw the contraception off, whether it be unforeseen hormonal changes in the body or an interaction with a drug or chemical, there will always be the tiniest chance. The Pill is doing pretty good though. 99.7% - I like them odds

Not if you have sex an average of once a day for three and a half years. :P

Although in conjuction with a condom id say your pretty safe.

b3t4

First of all, what's the trouble ye are having with condoms? Too small? Breakage? Alergic reaction?

As has been said watching your mucous and taking your temperature is only effective if you haven't been messing around with your natural cycle with hormonal contraception.

You could possible get yourself fitted for a diaphragm. Pill, + spermicidal lube + diaphragm seems like it'd give you the double up that you need.

The best thing I can suggest you do is go along to an Irish Family Planning Association office near you and discuss your options.

A.