For some women using the modern methods of contraception are not possible. This may be due to health considerations, religious beliefs or other personal reasons. No matter what the reason is the fact they do not used devices, chemicals, or medicines does not mean that they do not want to practice some type of birth control. One place that women turn when this is the case is to natural methods such as the use of herbs. Some herbs work to prevent implantation of the egg if it should become fertilized. These herbs all work basically the same. They prevent the egg from being able to get a hold on the wall of the uterus and so make it unable to attach. A fertilized egg usually is ready to attach around the sixth day after it is fertilized. If it cannot attach then pregnancy will not take place. The egg breaks down and a woman's period follows its natural course.

One of the herbs that is used by many who prefer natural contraceptive methods is rutin. This herb, also called vitamin P, is available in most health food stores. It comes in tablet form. With a daily dose of five hundred milligrams it can be the protection a woman wants. It needs to be taken on the three days before and after ovulation to prevent pregnancy. It also needs to be taken after having sex if the woman believes it may be in her fertile period and must be continued daily until she has a period.

Another herb which prevents implantation is apricot kernels. The reason behind its success is not clear but the thought is that it sees the fertilized egg as a foreign body and strikes at it trying to destroy it. It must be looked at as a remedy not a daily medication to prevent pregnancy. If a woman has intercourse during the period when she is ovulating and she fears she may have become pregnant because of the timing then she can try this remedy. She must immediately begin to consume several apricot kernels daily three times each day until she has her period.

Neem oil, which is also on the list of herbal contraceptives, can work as an implantation inhibitor. As a contraceptive it is used by women as a spermicide. Men use it as a daily medication to temporarily sterilize them. But is works as both. If a women think she may have become pregnant due to the timing of intercourse she can use it to prevent implantation. This method has had some studies done on it. Though they have so far only been conducted on rats the results have been very good. This inhibitor has worked successfully as long as ten days after the risky intercourse has occurred but works best in the first three days.

There are other implantation inhibitors including vitamin c, cotton root bark and smartweed leaves. To use these, and the Neem oil or apricot kernels, a woman needs to know the right amount to take. This can be learned from an herbalist, from books or websites.