The diaphram is still around. So are non-hormonal IUDs. I guess the question really is, how much will it matter to you if you *did* become pregnant? You can go the whole spectrum from Natural Family Planning, where the effectiveness wildly varies from person-to-person (for most women it's got about a 65% effectiveness, others claim for them it's close to 100%- you don't know beforehand where you'll fall) all the way up to surgical sterilization, which is 99.99% effective...but still messing with your body and very difficult to reverse.

I believe that in the middle ground, diaphrams have a slightly lower effectiveness than condoms (about 60-80%, depending on if you've had a child) *if* used properly. Then there's condoms themselves (86%) but most people in monogamous relationships hate using. Funny, i was surprised that simple withdrawl had a better rating than diaphrams (caps). The copper IUD is probably the most effective reversible non-hormonal contraceptive around. There was another long thread a few months ago about different types of IUDs and their pro's and cons if you want more info. Here's a good general site:
www.smartersex.org/contrace...chart.asp

I happily used NFP for over two years because i didn't want to put hormones in my body, but i also wound up with an unplanned pregnancy. My partner and i were both surprised (hell, shocked!) but thrilled, and we're expecting the little one in 7 weeks, but..... If an unintended pregnancy is NOT ok with you, then i highly, highly suggest using something with a reliability range in the >95%. Because as i'm sure a million sisters out there will tell you- it does happen!

The diaphragm is still very much around, and if you ask for it, there is a really good one that has an extra "lip" around the inside of the ring. The only unpleasant part is the spermacide that you must use in it to make it effective. They are just like condoms - if used correctly, it is a good method - most failures are from incorrect use ... or not using it every time!

There is also the female condom, and a new product that looks really promising - a super-thin non-latex panty that actually stretches into a condom, and is harder to break.

IUDs are effective, but the potential risks make me nervous.

:-)

I have been on and off two types of birth control for the last 8 years. My latest stint on them has been 7 months. I am increasingly becoming more worried about the side effect of messing with my natural biological functioning. I have horrible migraines and have since I started BC, though part of it may be a genetic factor. They are the kind that come with fun symptoms like, loss of feeling in half the body, blindness, hallucination, and loss of language comprehension. Scary stuff, to say the least. Stroke and heart disease run in my family. I have also read horrible reports of long term use of hormones damaging the natural output of testosterone, making it harder for a woman to orgasm and reducing libido over all. I have been tracking my cycle for the last 5 months, so I know some of the signs of ovulation already. I am going to continue birth control for one month while I prepare my intention, my partner, and my body to shift. I will update in a few months...

IUDs tend to get a bad wrap because of what happened with the Dalkon Shield in the 1970's, but the new ones are made so that the strings are not as likely to wick bacteria into your uterus. They are also shaped so that they are also much less likely to damage the uterus or imbed themselves in the endometrium. I heard lots of women say that they thought IUDs increased the risk of yeast and BV, but that was not my experience and knowing what I know about Copper IUDs, I don't think it is as likely. My experience was that I used to get very frequent yeast infections and I didn't have a single one in the year and a half that I had my IUD. (Before that I would get 6-10 infections per year.) I think that the presence of copper ions in the area decreases vaginal pH and keeps yeast or negative bacteria from establishing an overgrowth there. It is true that you have an increased risk of infection right after insertion of the IUD, but after that as long as you protect yourself from exposure to STD's your risk of infection is not increased.

Diaphrams are still in use, but they are not even as effective as condoms unless you use them perfectly. Some of the side effects include frequent UTIs because even when fitted correctly, the diaphram can press against your urethral sponge and make it harder to pass urine while it is in place. The spermicide used can cause sloughing of the cervical cells and make you more prone to cervical dysplasia. However, this is also true with the strings of an IUD.

The femcap is a somewhat better choice for barrier methods, but it is less effective the more children you have had, so it depends on what your reproductive history is. It also depends on what your comfort level is with an accidental pregnancy. I would recommend the fertility awareness method, which is more reliable than NFP, if you don't want to use an IUD, but you do want high effectiveness without side effects. Check out the book "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" by Toni Welsher for more information on the fertility awareness method.

Re-reading this whole thread made me think about something a lady-friend of mine said the other day: Where is the pill for men?
Why do women have to be the only one's to weigh all these choices?
Considering that most men I know would want to be involved in an abortion decision, they do have some connection to the BC choices, even if they have the option to cut and run. But the only options they have are to snip or wear a condom.
We have to deal with weirdo hormones in our bodies, devices of all kinds.

Sorry, rant over!