Birth Control Bingo: Hormonal Methods Without Estrogen

Part of Scarleteen's Birth Control Bingo. Need to go back a question? Or start over?

On the previous page, you said that you wanted a hormonal method, but that you:

• smoke (and plan to continue smoking, or know you can't commit to quitting yet)
• have migraine headaches
• breastfeed an infant currently
• know you are sensitive to estrogens
• or have you had bad side effects with hormonal methods which contain estrogen⁠ (estrogen: A steroid hormone found in the bodies of all people, produced in the ovaries and the adrenal glands.It is involved in puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, mood, bone health, and other things across the body and lifespan .) before?

You still have a few choices, as there are hormonal methods which you can still use safely, and without most of the effects of estrogens.

Which of the following statements sounds most like you:=

I CAN handle taking a pill every day of every month -- within a three hour window every day -- without fail AND I do still want to have a menstrual period⁠ (menstrual period: The shedding of the uterine lining as part of the menstrual cycle. This often appears as a bloody liquid, but sometimes is more solid, and is made of numerous components, of which blood is only one.) , but understand I may still have some mid-cycle spotting AND I want a method which I can easily stop using, on my own, on any given day (understanding it will then no longer be effective) AND I prefer taking pills to injections or minor surgical procedures and devices inside my body

If this sounds most like you, click here to consider the Minipill.

OR

I CANNOT, or suspect I cannot, take a pill around the same time every day without fail AND I am okay with the likely possibility of absent periods and with unexpected bleeding or spotting AND I am okay with a method where I either may have to wait a while for the effects to wear off, or for a return to full fertility⁠ (fertility: The ability to become pregnant or other things having to do with becoming pregnant (eg, “the fertility clinic”).) , or where I will need to see my sexual⁠ (sexual: About or relating in some way to sex or sexuality.) healthcare provider⁠ (healthcare provider: A qualified person to provide sound physical and/or mental healthcare, such as a doctor, nurse, clinician, counselor, medical assistant, midwife or other healthcare professional.) to have the method removed AND I prefer injections, minor surgical procedures/devices in my body to taking pills.

If this sounds most like you, keep reading.

Three possible methods remain for those who want a hormonal method without estrogens, and who either cannot or do not want to commit to taking a pill every day: a contraceptive implant, the Depo-Provera Shot or an IUD⁠ (IUD: Intra-uterine device. A long-term birth control method inserted into the uterus by a healthcare provider. Also called an IUS (Intrauterine system) or IUC (Intrauterine contraceptive).) . Let's narrow things down further to find out⁠ (out: Short for ‘out of the closet’. When someone’s LGBTQ+ identity is known to other people.) which of these three options may be best for you.

First, would you prefer or do you need no hormones⁠ (hormones: Chemicals – via our endocrine system – that send messages across our bodies and brains. They both naturally exist and can also be made in a lab.) at all? If so, click here and look at the information for the Copper-T IUD. If that doesn't look like the thing for you, then you may want to start over, either by looking at other non-hormonal methods, or by starting back at the top⁠ (top: In sexuality, this is someone who wants to take the/a lead during sex with a partner or partners, or to consensually take the role of being in charge of sexual actions.) .

If you're okay with hormones -- knowing we're not talking about estrogens -- or you don't have a preference or sensitivity⁠ (sensitivity: A responsiveness to internal or external stimulus.) , keep reading.

Which of the following sounds most like you:

I can deal with likely weight gain, potentially even a substantial gain AND I would prefer an injection to a device being inside my body AND I am not in a long-term committed relationship⁠ (relationship: An ongoing interaction or association with another person, place or thing.) , or am not able to be consistent with and assertive⁠ (assertive: To be self-assured, self-confident. To stand up for oneself in a positive, nonviolent way.) about my partners practicing safer sex⁠ (safer sex: Practices which aim to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections, such as use of latex/nonlatex barriers, regular testing for infections and limiting the number of sexual partners.) to the letter AND I can live with negative side effects which may possibly continue months or maybe even (though far less often) years after I have discontinued a method AND I want or can live with a method I need to get every three months AND I can take a calcium supplement every day to protect myself against bone loss from a method ANDI suspect or know that I am not able to get an IUD or an Implant, and know I cannot use estrogen, but want a hormonal contraceptive.

If this sounds most like you, click here to find out about Depo-Provera.

OR

I feel okay with leaving a device in my body to provide longer-term contraception⁠ (contraception: Devices, medications or behaviors used to intentionally aim to prevent pregnancy, including the condom, the cervical barrier, the implant, the patch, the pill, the rhythm method, the ring, the shot, the IUD, spermicide and withdrawal.) AND/OR I suffer from serious depression, or have concerns about possibly major weight gain AND I want or can live with a method which can last anywhere from three years to twelve years OR I cannot commit to a schedule of renewing my method every three months AND I want an easily reversible method where side effects will not likely continue after I discontinue use.

If this sounds most like you, keep reading.

We're down to two more methods, so it's time to make a couple final choices. Which of the following two groups sounds the most like you?

I am NOT in a long-term committed relationship where my STI⁠ (STI: Sexually transmitted infections: illness, infection and/or disease which is often or can be transmitted through sexual or other intimate contact, like HIV, Chlamydia or Herpes. Some people call STIs STDs.) risks are minimal or I am NOT easily able to be assertive and consistent about safer sex practices with partners AND I am comfortable having a device in my body, but would prefer it in my arm rather than in my uterus⁠ (uterus: An internal, muscular reproductive organ in the pelvis. During pregnancy, this is where a fetus will develop. The lining of a person’s uterus is also the thing that sheds every menstrual cycle in what we call a period.) AND I cannot easily get health care on the fly or cannot commit to yearly sexual health exams AND I have not been pregnant before, or am a young teen AND I can deal with unexplained bleeding or spotting, even if it's something I may have to deal with every day of the year AND I prefer a method which will be effective with one insertion for up to three years.

If this sounds most like you, click here to consider the Contraceptive Implant.

OR

I am in a long-term committed relationship where my STI risks are minimal or I am easily able to be assertive and consistent about safer sex practices with partners AND I am comfortable having a device in my body, but would prefer it in my uterus rather than in my arm AND I can easily get health care on the fly and can commit to yearly sexual health exams AND I have been pregnant before, whether or not I have had a child or terminated, or am not in my early teens AND I prefer a method which will be effective with one insertion for up to twelve years AND I can deal with unexplained bleeding or spotting for a couple of months, and then every now and then.

If this sounds most like you, click here to look into an IUD.

If any or all of those things DO NOT work for you, AND if none of the options for methods before that last question worked either, then you may want to consider a different hormonal method, or a non-hormonal method. Or, you may want to start over from the top of this page to see if you can't strike a compromise somewhere, such as by being willing to deal with some weight gain or spotting, or to commit yourself to safer sex practices completely.