You may have heard that spermicides can help protect your sexual health and wellness, but what exactly are they? You get spermicides in all different forms, from creams, gels and foams to films and suppositories. Spermicides protect your wellbeing against unwanted pregnancy, but they are far more effective when used in conjunction with another method of birth control, such as a condom or diaphragm.
Most spermicides contain nonoxynol-9, a chemical that immobilises and kills sperm before they are able to swim into the uterus. In order to ensure you use the spermicide effectively, you need to place it deep in your vagina, close to your cervix. If the type of spermicide you’re using is a cream, gel or foam, you squirt the solution into your vagina using an applicator. You can also use vaginal suppositories, or a vaginal contraceptive film (VCF). This is a thin sheet placed in the back of your vagina by hand. You place the spermicide in your vagina before intercourse, according to the instructions. Some forms of spermicides offer protection right away, while the vast majority will take at least 15 minutes to dissolve and spread. Once you’ve inserted your spermicide, it will only be effective for one hour. Therefore, you need to reapply the spermicide if more than one hour goes by before having sex, or if you have sex again. When using spermicides, you should not douche for at least six hours after having sex.
Using spermicides for birth control is fairly effective, with a success rate of 71%. Over the course of a year, about 29 out of 100 typical couples who rely on spermicide alone to prevent pregnancy will have an accidental pregnancy. However, this is just an average, which doesn’t mean a whole lot to you as an individual. The efficacy of your spermicide use will entirely depend on whether or not you do it correctly, and if you remember to use spermicides every time you have sex. The key thing to remember is that spermicides are most effective when used in combination with another form of birth control. Spermicides alone cannot protect you against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), only a male or female condom, or abstaining from sex altogether, provides STD protection. Plus, if you use spermicide frequently, it can cause irritation that may increase your risk of getting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
When it comes to the pros and cons of using spermicide, there are points to consider on both sides of the coin. While spermicides are not as effective on their own as other forms of birth control, they are convenient, inexpensive, and easy to use. These are important factors in birth control, as you need a method that you’ll remember to use and do so correctly each time. However, the efficacy of spermicides will somewhat depend on any health conditions you may have, or any medications you’re taking that might interfere with their use. Plus, as spermicides have been known to irritate the vagina and surrounding skin, it may make it easier to be infected with STDs like HIV. Another possible side effect is recurrent urinary tract infections because the spermicide can disrupt the normal balance of bacteria in your body.
Still, spermicides can provide extra protection against pregnancy when used in conjunction with condoms or other barrier methods of birth control. They’re available without a prescription and are found in chemists and some supermarkets, often found the condoms and feminine hygiene products. Just make sure you’re careful when choosing a spermicide; the packages may look like those of some feminine hygiene products, such as douches or washes, which don’t provide any birth control protection at all.
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