Without condoms or hormonal options (pills, patches, shots), there isn't much else available that I'm aware of. There is the sponge, which contains spermicide, but it isn't as effective as condoms so you're taking a bit of a risk if you use it as your only birth control method.

If the feel of the condom is what bothers you and you haven't already done so, you may want to try some different brands. They really can be quite different, and there are online stores that offer sampler packs so you don't have to invest in full boxes.

Ok, this is an I am at work question.

Few questions to begin:

Are you in an exclusive long term relationship?
Are you wanting kids now or in the future? (If you don't want kids a simple snip will solve that).
Do you have any allergies?

Your options as they stand are few but still effective. Non-hormonal IUD will work well. Vaginal ring good for three weeks a hit. Diaphragm or cervical cap works good too.

Another more medical option is Depo-Provera injections.

Reply for more details.

I would love to slap you across the back of the head for even suggesting withdrawal as a contraceptive measure. But that's the Nurse in me talking.

I did suggest it for use in combination with other methods of birth control. Obviously it's not 100% but it CAN increase in effectiveness if combined with other methods. If the original poster is against hormonal options or condoms, it is better than nothing.

Yeah, I know, just joking. But I would still slap you if you were one of my juniors at work.

But she's not your junior, and each *woman* should be allowed to make her own choice based on the facts she gathers. BlackOrchid was simply offering another alternative, and was not saying it was the best/safest solution. Abstinence? Agreed, it's the best option, but hardly practical for adults who are in a relationship and want to have sex, like the OP is. Honestly, do these kinds of conversations always have to be turned into some sort of medical lecture?

No, nothing funny about that. EF's forum is about a safe place where we can find a Community offering support & help, not 'joking' judgements. Every woman has the right to make their own contraceptive choices w/o being censored like this. If we can't support or help one another, then there's no need to comment. Move on to the next discussion.

I agree. The withdrawal method is NOT reliable, AT ALL!!! Ovulation trackers can be slightly effective. But, sperm has been known to live in the female body up to 7 days after ejaculation (though rare).

Even IUDs have some hormones in them, however, they're the least hassle, other than getting your tubes tied if you don't want any children. Or, he can get a vasectomy. The last 2 are permanent, so it's something to seriously consider.

Other than that, hormonal options are really your only option other than condoms. They do have many brands out there, so I'd recommend either an IUD, like Merena, or try out other brands of condoms if you're going to be sexually active.

Lecture:

Viable sperm can effectively survive 5-6 days in a good environment (7 is pushing it but theoretically 9 days is possible).

Sperm can live for:

20+ minutes in open air (longer if on the skin).
50+ minutes in most non-acidic lubricants (even spermicidal lubricants).
2-3 hours in the moist vagina (longer around the cervix region).
Once past the cervix sperm are pretty safe for 2-3 days.
By day 4 most of the weaker sperm will have died off.
A small percentage of the 20+ million sperm will rach days 5-6.
Under ideal circumstances, sperm can survive for up to 7 days.

Around ovulation time, a woman’s body produces cervical mucus that makes the conditions in the vagina favorable for sperms, which makes it much easier for them to go beyond the cervix and into the fallopian tubes.

It only takes 1 (ONE) single sperm to fertilise an egg. At the right time of the month there are usually 2 eggs on offer (if not more).

20+ Million sperm, 9 day window, average 4 day ovulation receptive period (if not longer). Even if you had sex every fortnight. There is the substantial potential to conceive a week after sex.