{"id":3242,"date":"2022-07-22T12:46:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-22T12:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vulvani.com\/wie-funktioniert-eigentlich-hormonfreie-verhuetung\/"},"modified":"2022-11-03T03:05:48","modified_gmt":"2022-11-03T03:05:48","slug":"how-does-non-hormonal-contraception-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vulvani.com\/en\/how-does-non-hormonal-contraception-work\/","title":{"rendered":"How does non-hormonal contraception work?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Non-hormonal contraception \u2013 what is it actually and how does it work properly? Katharina<\/a> from Ovulista<\/a> explains the advantages of hormone-free contraception, her top three tips to stop taking the pill, and how to fill out a cycle sheet correctly. And if you\u2019ve always wanted to know what cervical mucus is, read on!<\/p>

Can you please introduce yourself?<\/h2>\n\n

I am Katharina<\/a> (28) from Hamburg. I am a certified expert in cycle health and natural family planning (NFP) and the founder of Ovulista<\/a>. When I\u2019m not working for Ovulista, I like to go running, dancing, walking with friends, or to a caf\u00e9 or restaurant.<\/p>\n\n

What is Ovulista and how did you come up with the idea?<\/h2>\n\n

Ovulista<\/a> is a company with the aim of providing scientific cycle knowledge and showing menstruators<\/a> how they can use their cycle for their benefit \u2013 for their health, for contraception, or a wish for a child<\/a>. I stopped taking the pill a good five years ago and subsequently experienced a long period without menstruation<\/a>. During this phase, I studied the cycle and learned a lot that I didn\u2019t know \u2013 although I always felt well informed!<\/p>\n\n

I started with Ovulista because I wanted to share my knowledge, although initially it was just a hobby. In the meantime, I have undergone various training and further education in the field of cycle health<\/a> and NFP. Through Ovulista<\/a>, I would like to achieve that NFP and cycle health are also taken more seriously in medicine in the long term. My goal is that many cycle-related complaints such as PMS<\/a> or menstrual pain<\/a> are no longer declared \u201cnormal\u201d or treated with the pill.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n

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What do you understand by the term non-hormonal contraception?<\/h3>

For me, non-hormonal contraception means contraceptive methods that do not interfere with the natural hormone balance. Hormone-free contraceptive methods are, for example, barrier methods such as condoms and diaphragms, copper solutions, and methods of natural family planning (NFP)<\/a>. When I talk about NFP however, I always mean the safest NFP method, the symptothermal method<\/a>. In this method, two bodily signs, cervical mucus or cervix and, basal body temperature are observed and evaluated independently. This double-check makes this NFP method as safe as the pill or hormonal contraception<\/a>.<\/p>

Cervical mucus \u2013 What is it and what types are there?<\/h3>

Cervical mucus is what most people know as \u201cdischarge\u201d. It is a secretion produced at the cervix (neck of the womb). Cervical mucus plays a very important role in health and fertility. Depending on which phase of your cycle you are in, it is either part of your immune system or life insurance for sperm on their way to the egg.<\/p>

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On the non-fertile days of the cycle, cervical mucus is thick, sticky and, like a plug that seals the cervix. On fertile days it becomes more fluid and often more visible, then it supports sperm on their way into the uterus.<\/p>

By observing cervical mucus, you can therefore easily see what is happening hormonally in your body.<\/p>

What are the advantages of hormone-free contraception?<\/h2>

The most significant advantage of non-hormonal contraception is that the natural hormonal balance remains unaffected. Hormones are sent through the body via the bloodstream and therefore never act only locally \u2013 even if this is often claimed. The hormone balance thus not only influences the menstrual cycle, but also the choice of partner, mood<\/a>, libido<\/a>, appetite<\/a>, energy level<\/a>, and much more.<\/p>

If the natural hormone balance is manipulated with hormonal contraception, this influences all areas of life. The pill<\/a> is also a medical drug and comes with a correspondingly long list of side effects. When hormone-free contraception is used with NFP, these side effects do not occur. Other advantages of contraception with NFP are: improved body knowledge and body awareness<\/a>, and the possibility to integrate the cycle into life and use it for oneself.<\/p>

Who is non-hormonal contraception best for?<\/h3>

Non-hormonal contraception is suitable for anyone who is not comfortable with hormonal contraception \u2013 be it because of the side effects, because they are vegan or because they want to have a natural cycle.<\/p>

There is a prejudice against NFP that the method is only suitable for menstruating people<\/a> who have a regular cycle and lifestyle. But this is not true. Because NFP involves daily monitoring of body signs, fertility<\/a> is always assessed based on of the current cycle and not based on past cycles. NFP is therefore also suitable for irregular cycles.<\/strong><\/p>

With NFP you don\u2019t have to change or adapt your lifestyle. Everything is allowed, you just have to know how to deal with some things in the evaluation. So NFP is also good for people who work shifts, for students who like to party, and for people who need to calm the baby at night.<\/p>

Nevertheless, you should consider the following three points:<\/p>