I don’t like the way birth control makes me feel. What are some non-hormonal alternatives?

It depends on what you’re using them for. Cramps? Over-the-counter Naproxen or ibuprofen. Bloating? Caffeine, which is found in medicines like Midol, can be helpful. Heavy flow? Unfortunately, that requires hormonal birth control to have any significant impact. Pregnancy prevention? Two non-hormonal options are condoms (super easy to access) and the copper IUD (requires one-time placement but can stay in place for up to 10 years).