Ovulation tests as part of contraception?

Questions and discussion about contraception, safer sex, STIs, sexual healthcare and other sexual health issues.
phantomdog
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Ovulation tests as part of contraception?

Unread post by phantomdog »

Hey everyone, looking for some insight on potential contraception options.
I've been on testosterone for 4 years and haven't had a period in about that long as well. I'm with a cis man right now and we are sexually active. I'm not interested in conventional contraceptive options (IUDs, BC pills, implant, etc.) because I feel they are all either too invasive or have too hefty a side effect profile that I really don't want to deal with. My understanding is that testosterone greatly diminishes the body's ability to ovulate, but this can't be ruled out completely. For that reason, I was wondering if regularly taking ovulation tests -- which are super cheap from what I've found online -- would be a reliable way to guide the level of sexual risk I take with him or if I should reconsider the above options. Thanks!
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Re: Ovulation tests as part of contraception?

Unread post by Heather »

Condoms are not only highly effective, but also give STI protection no other method can. How about condoms?

The trouble with this idea is that these tests reliability is less than condoms in regular use (about 93%, where condoms used correctly is 98%), and they can also show false positives. So no, it’s never advised these are used alone as contraception. However, if you were actually using FAM correctly as a method, using these tests with it could be a good backup, but again, you’d then also be going without any protection from STIs.
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