Birth Control: Types and Considerations for Transgender and Nonbinary People

No matter where you are on the gender spectrum, you may select to utilize contraception if there’s an opportunity you might get pregnant and you do not wish to.

Not all individuals who are transgender nonbinaryor gender extensive select to get gender-affirming careSome individuals do take hormonal agent treatment as part of their medical care to assist align their sex attributes with their gender identity. If you do, bear in mind that gender-affirming hormonal agent treatment isn’t produced contraception, so you should not count on it for that function.

Some individuals may likewise think about specific kinds of hormone contraception for other factors. gender dysphoria — distress when your gender does not match the sex appointed to you at birth– can become worse if you determine as male however were designated woman at birth and get your duration. Some contraception choices can minimize or stop your duration

Contraception is not developed for any specific gender identity. Anything that cisgender individuals may select is offered for everybody. The kind of contraceptive that’s finest for you depends upon your scenario.

“If it’s for a client without any other threat aspects, any choice is offered,” states Beth Cronin, MD, an obstetrician-gynecologist in Providence, RI. Things that might impact your choice include your health, household preparation objectives, and what adverse effects you’re ready or able to live with.

Contraceptive therapy can assist you choose which alternative finest matches your objectives, states Adam Bonnington, MD, an obstetrician-gynecologist in San Francisco. (Contraceptive is another word for contraception.)

If your objective is to prevent pregnancy, you might wish to think about contraception if:

• You have ovaries and a uterus, you have actually not gone through menopauseand you have vaginal sex with somebody who has testicles and a penis.
• You have testicles and a penis, and you have vaginal sex with somebody who has ovaries and a uterus who hasn’t been through menopause and does not wish to get pregnant.

You and your partner might wish to discuss what you each desire and what the alternatives are.

Trans males and nonbinary individuals:If you take testosterone treatment (T) to suppress womanly qualities and draw out manly ones, it will stop your durations. Some individuals presume that suggests they can’t get pregnant. While a pregnancy for somebody in this scenario is not likely, it’s not difficult, Cronin states.

“We usually counsel clients that if they’re on T and are having that kind of sex, they might get pregnant and they must be utilizing birth control,” she states.

If you take testosterone as part of your gender-affirming care, and you wish to get pregnant, you’ll need to stop taking it.

Trans females and nonbinary individuals:Some trans females and nonbinary individuals take estradiol treatment as a feminizing hormonal agent. That treatment will not work as contraception. Neither will hormone treatment that curbs manly characteristics, since it does not totally stop sperm production.

If you have not had a birth control (when a medical professional cuts and seals televisions that bring sperm) or orchiectomy (surgical treatment to get rid of the testicles), and you have vaginal sex with your partner, make certain they utilize contraception if they do not wish to get pregnant. You can likewise utilize a barrier approach, such as a prophylactic, however prophylactics do not work along with other types of contraception.

Other kinds of hormone treatments that aren’t contraception techniques consist of:

• Cyproterone acetate
• Finasteride
• Gonadotropin-releasing hormonal agent (GnRH) analogues

There are a number of kinds of contraception. The type that’s right for you may not be best for somebody else.

Things that can impact your choices consist of:

• How simple it is to utilize
• Expense
• Possible negative effects
• Mistaken beliefs you have about it
• Things that make it difficult to get contraception
• Discrimination or predisposition
• Your relationship with your medical professional

Talk with your physician if you have concerns about your choices.

Condoms

Prophylactics will assist secure you from sexually transmitted illness (STDs)To prevent pregnancy, you ought to likewise utilize another kind of birth control.

If prophylactics are the only type of birth control you utilize– and you utilize them completely, each time you have vaginal sex– there’s about a 2% possibility that you might get pregnant. Many individuals do not constantly utilize them properly, driving up the chances of getting pregnant to about 13% if you’re not utilizing a 2nd type of birth control.

IUDs

Intrauterine gadgets (IUDs) are formed like a T. A physician inserts an IUD into your uterus for long-lasting, extremely efficient birth control. It’s a fast procedure, however you’ll wish to ensure you’re comfy with that.

There are 5 kinds of IUDs authorized in the U.S. Four of them launch extremely percentages of the hormonal agent progestin, which will not trigger any feminizing impacts. The 5th type is a nonhormonal copper intrauterine gadget (you may hear these called Cu-IUDs).

Adverse effects can consist of vaginal identifying (where there’s just a bit of blood) and bleeding. Some individuals likewise get cramps associated to their IUD. The majority of individuals stick with the IUDs, according to a 2021 research study released in the Journal of Midwifery and Women’s HealthThat research study was based upon a study of 105 trans guys and gender varied individuals with IUDs who had actually been designated female at birth. The IUDs were “well endured,” the scientists composed, with couple of individuals looking for to eliminate them due to the fact that of negative effects.

Progesterone-only techniques

Progesterone is a hormonal agent that your body makes. Progestin is an artificial variation of it.

Progesterone-only approaches of contraception consist of some IUDs (levonorgestrel intrauterine systems), implants, shots, or tablets. Speak to your physician about it initially.

Shots or IUDs might assist you stop or reduce bleeding from your vaginal area. To prevent bleeding, you might wish to pick a technique like the progestin-only implant, IUD, or shot, Bonnington states.

Integrated hormone contraceptives (CHCs)

Integrated hormone contraceptives (CHCs) consist of spots, tablets, and the vaginal ring. They include estrogen and progestogen. There isn’t sufficient feminizing hormonal agent in these contraceptives to impact testosterone treatment.

If you’ve had leading surgical treatment (surgical treatment to get rid of breast tissue to produce a more manly chest), medications with estrogen– such as contraceptive pill, spots, or the ring– may make your breasts feel tender or aching. “Some individuals keep in mind some bloating and things like that, however it’s actually going to depend upon the individual,” Cronin states.

More long-term choices

There are likewise more long-term kinds of contraception. Either partner can get a birth control or tubal ligation (surgical treatment to cut, connect, or obstruct the fallopian tubes). Both treatments will assist avoid conception.