Irrespective of the place you’re on the gender spectrum, you would possibly select to make use of birth control if there’s an opportunity you possibly can get pregnant and also you don’t need to.
Not all people who find themselves transgender, nonbinary, or gender expansive select to get gender-affirming care. However some individuals do take hormone remedy as a part of their medical care to assist align their intercourse traits with their gender identification. When you do, understand that gender-affirming hormone remedy isn’t made for contraception, so that you shouldn’t depend on it for that function.
Some individuals may additionally think about sure varieties of hormonal contraception for different causes. For instance, gender dysphoria – misery when your gender doesn’t match the intercourse assigned to you at start – can worsen if you happen to establish as male however have been assigned feminine at start and get your interval. Some contraception choices can reduce or stop your period.
Contraception is just not designed for any specific gender identification. Something that cisgender individuals would possibly select is accessible for everybody. The kind of contraceptive that’s finest for you will depend on your scenario.
“If it’s for a affected person with no different danger elements, any possibility is accessible,” says Beth Cronin, MD, an obstetrician-gynecologist in Windfall, RI. Issues which will have an effect on your resolution embrace your well being, household planning objectives, and what unwanted side effects you’re prepared or in a position to dwell with.
Contraceptive counseling can assist you resolve which possibility finest matches your objectives, says Adam Bonnington, MD, an obstetrician-gynecologist in San Francisco. (Contraceptive is one other phrase for contraception.)
In case your aim is to keep away from being pregnant, you might need to think about contraception if:
- You may have ovaries and a uterus, you haven’t gone via menopause, and you’ve got vaginal intercourse with somebody who has testicles and a penis.
- You may have testicles and a penis, and you’ve got vaginal intercourse with somebody who has ovaries and a uterus who hasn’t been via menopause and doesn’t need to get pregnant.
You and your companion could need to focus on what you every need and what the choices are.
Trans males and nonbinary individuals: When you take testosterone remedy (T) to curb female traits and produce out masculine ones, it can cease your durations. Some individuals assume which means they will’t get pregnant. However whereas a being pregnant for somebody on this scenario is unlikely, it’s not unattainable, Cronin says.
“We usually counsel sufferers that in the event that they’re on T and are having that kind of intercourse, they might get pregnant and they need to be utilizing contraception,” she says.
When you take testosterone as a part of your gender-affirming care, and also you need to get pregnant, you’ll should cease taking it.
Trans ladies and nonbinary individuals: Some trans ladies and nonbinary individuals take estradiol remedy as a feminizing hormone. That remedy received’t work as contraception. Neither will hormonal remedy that curbs masculine traits, as a result of it doesn’t utterly cease sperm manufacturing.
When you haven’t had a vasectomy (when a physician cuts and seals the tubes that carry sperm) or orchiectomy (surgical procedure to take away the testicles), and you’ve got vaginal intercourse along with your companion, be sure that they use contraception in the event that they don’t need to get pregnant. It’s also possible to use a barrier methodology, akin to a condom, however condoms don’t work in addition to different types of contraception.
Different varieties of hormonal therapies that aren’t contraception strategies embrace:
- Cyproterone acetate
- Finasteride
- Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues
There are a number of varieties of contraception. The kind that’s best for you won’t be proper for another person.
Issues that may have an effect on your choices embrace:
- How straightforward it’s to make use of
- Price
- Attainable unwanted side effects
- Misconceptions you’ve about it
- Issues that make it exhausting to get contraception
- Discrimination or bias
- Your relationship along with your physician
Discuss to your physician if in case you have questions on your choices.
Condoms
Condoms will assist shield you from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). However to keep away from being pregnant, you also needs to use one other type of contraception.
If condoms are the one type of contraception you employ – and you employ them completely, each time you’ve vaginal intercourse – there’s a few 2% likelihood that you possibly can get pregnant. However most individuals don’t at all times use them appropriately, driving up the chances of getting pregnant to about 13% if you happen to’re not utilizing a second type of contraception.
IUDs
Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are formed like a T. A physician inserts an IUD into your uterus for long-term, extremely efficient contraception. It’s a fast course of, however you’ll need to be sure to’re comfy with that.
There are 5 varieties of IUDs accredited within the U.S. 4 of them launch very small quantities of the hormone progestin, which won’t trigger any feminizing results. The fifth kind is a nonhormonal copper intrauterine gadget (you would possibly hear these referred to as Cu-IUDs).
Uncomfortable side effects can embrace vaginal recognizing (the place there’s solely slightly little bit of blood) and bleeding. Some individuals additionally get cramps associated to their IUD. However most individuals stick to the IUDs, based on a 2021 research revealed within the Journal of Midwifery and Girls’s Well being. That research was primarily based on a survey of 105 trans males and gender numerous individuals with IUDs who had been assigned feminine at start. The IUDs have been “nicely tolerated,” the researchers wrote, with few individuals in search of to take away them due to unwanted side effects.
Progesterone-only strategies
Progesterone is a hormone that your physique makes. Progestin is an artificial model of it.
Progesterone-only strategies of contraception embrace some IUDs (levonorgestrel intrauterine programs), implants, pictures, or capsules. Discuss to your physician about it first.
Photographs or IUDs might make it easier to cease or reduce bleeding out of your vagina. To keep away from bleeding, you might need to select a way just like the progestin-only implant, IUD, or shot, Bonnington says.
Mixed hormonal contraceptives (CHCs)
Mixed hormonal contraceptives (CHCs) embrace patches, capsules, and the vaginal ring. They include estrogen and progestogen. There isn’t sufficient feminizing hormone in these contraceptives to have an effect on testosterone remedy.
When you’ve had top surgery (surgical procedure to take away breast tissue to create a extra masculine chest), drugs with estrogen – akin to contraception capsules, patches, or the ring – would possibly make your breasts really feel tender or sore. “Some individuals be aware some bloating and issues like that, but it surely’s actually going to rely upon the particular person,” Cronin says.
Extra everlasting choices
There are additionally extra everlasting types of contraception. Both companion can get a vasectomy or tubal ligation (surgical procedure to chop, tie, or block the fallopian tubes). Each procedures will assist stop conception.
Many transgender and nonbinary individuals say they’ve been discriminated towards or in any other case not handled respectfully in well being care settings.
Generally one of the simplest ways to search out LGBTQ-friendly suppliers is thru phrase of mouth from household or buddies, Cronin says. Native LGBTQ organizations usually have a listing of suppliers they refer individuals to, Bonnington says.
Indicators the supplier is LGBTQ-friendly can embrace:
- A posted signal with nondiscrimination insurance policies that embrace gender identification and expression protections
- A ready room with instructional brochures, magazines, or posters about transgender well being
- A toilet labeled for all-gender use
- Consumption kinds that ask in your appropriate identify, pronouns, gender identification, and intercourse assigned at start
- Suppliers who’ve their pronouns on their identify badges
Nonetheless, he says, these aren’t ensures {that a} supplier or clinic is LGBTQ-friendly.
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