Barrier Methods

Barrier methods include cervical caps, diaphragms, and the sponge. Your health care provider must prescribe the diaphragm and cervical cap. The Today Sponge^® is available "over the counter," which means it can be bought at a store without a prescription. Barrier methods are placed in the woman's vagina before having sex.

Barrier methods do not protect you from sexually transmitted infections—also called STIs for short—which are diseases, infections, or illnesses that can spread from one person to another through sexual contact. Some examples of STDs are chlamydia, herpes, HIV, gonorrhea, and syphilis. For more information, visit the ARHP STI Resource Center.

What you need to do:

• Plan ahead and have the products available whenever you have sex.

Pros:

• Most barrier methods are easy to get; some are sold widely without a prescription.
• There is no need for special medical procedures or examinations.
• Side effects are uncommon. Almost anyone can use them (except those sensitive or allergic to the ingredients).

Cons:

• Barrier methods are often not used correctly, which can lead to unintended pregnancies.

Make sure you learn about Emergency contraception before using any of the barrier methods. Sometimes called the "morning after pill," Emergency contraception reduces the chance of getting pregnant after unprotected sexual intercourse. For more information, visit the ARHP Emergency Contraception Resource Center.

Effectiveness:

This guide gives effectiveness percentages for two categories of contraceptive use: typical use, which includes people who may not always use a method exactly how and when they were supposed to use it, and perfect use, which indicates how effective the method would be if it were always used correctly.

Cervical Caps (with spermicide) for women who have NEVER had a baby

• Perfect use: For women who use cervical caps with spermicide correctly every time they have sex, 9 women out of 100 might become pregnant in one year.
• Typical use: For typical users, 16 women out of 100 might become pregnant when using cervical caps with spermicide for one year.

Cervical Caps (with spermicide) for women who HAVE had a baby

• Perfect use: For women who use cervical caps with spermicide correctly every time they have sex, 26 women out of 100 might become pregnant in one year.
• Typical use: For typical users, 32 women out of 100 might become pregnant when using cervical caps with spermicide for one year.

Diaphragm

• Perfect use: For women who use the diaphragm correctly every time they have sex, 6 women out of 100 might become pregnant in one year.
• Typical use: For typical users, 16 women out of 100 might become pregnant when using the diaphragm for one year.

Sponge for women who have NEVER had a baby

• Perfect use: For women who use the sponge correctly every time they have sex, 9 women out of 100 might become pregnant in one year.
• Typical use: For typical users, 16 women out of 100 might become pregnant when using the sponge for one year.

Sponge for women who HAVE had a baby

• Perfect use: For women who use the sponge correctly every time they have sex, 20 women out of 100 might become pregnant in one year.
• Typical use: For typical users, 32 women out of 100 might become pregnant when using the sponge for one year.

Available barrier methods

Diaphragms are soft, dome-shaped rubber cups that fit inside the vagina and are placed against the cervix. The diaphragm must be fitted by a health care professional (not every time you use it) and used with a spermicide.

Cervical caps are soft rubber cups with a round rim that fits snugly around the cervix. It is smaller than a diaphragm and uses suction to stay in place. The cap must be fitted by a health care professional before it can be prescribed for you (not every time you use it) and used with a spermicide. The cervical cap prevents sperm from entering the uterus. It is inserted into the vagina, anytime before intercourse.

The contraceptive sponge is made of disposable polyurethane foam and contains spermicide.  It is soft, round, and about two inches in diameter, with a nylon loop attached to the bottom for removal. It can prevent pregnancy for 24 hours, using three separate modes of contraceptive action: a barrier method blocking the entry of sperm into the cervix, continual release of spermicide and absorption of sperm by the foam sponge. It is inserted in the Vagina up to 6 hours before intercourse .

Available cervical caps

The FemCap^® is made of silicone rubber, a non-allergenic, durable material which is easy to clean. The FemCap comes in three sizes. The smallest is for women who have never been pregnant; the medium is for women who have been pregnant but have not had a vaginal delivery; and the largest is for women who have had a vaginal delivery of a full-term baby. The FemCap can be left in place in the vagina for up to 48 hours. More spermicide must be inserted without removing the cap before having sex again. The FemCap cap should stay in the vagina in place for six hours after sex.

Lea's Shield^® is made of silicone rubber, a non-allergenic, durable material which is easy to clean. It has a loop to help with insertion and removal and a "flutter valve" that stops air from getting in between the cap and the cervix and allows for a snug fit on the cervix. The Lea’s Shield can be left in place in the vagina for up to 48 hours. More spermicide must be inserted without removing the shield before having sex again. The Lea’s Shield should stay in the vagina in place for eight hours after sex.

The Prentif™ cervical cap is thimble-shaped and made of latex rubber. It fits snuggly over the cervix and is held in place by suction and support of the vaginal wall. The Prentif cap can be kept in place for up to two days and you do not have to use more spermicide to maintain effectiveness. The Prentif cap should stay in the vagina in place for eight hours after sex.

Available Sponge

The Today Sponge is a small, pliable, polyurethane foam sponge containing the spermicide Nonoxynol-9 (N9). A concave depression on one side fits against the cervix, and a soft loop on the other side can be grasped for removal. The Today Sponge is designed to protect against pregnancy for 24 hours, regardless of the number of acts of intercourse, but users are counseled to leave the sponge in place for six hours after intercourse before removing it.

For more information on barrier and other contraceptive methods, including links to other Web sites, visit the ARHP Contraception Resource Center or ask your health care provider for more information.

To learn more about the FemCap, please visit their Web site: http://www.femcap.com/

To learn more about the Lea's Shield, please visit their Web site: http://www.leasshield.com/

To learn more about the Prentif cap, please visit their Web site: http://www.prentif.com/

To learn more about the Today Sponge, please visit their Web site: http://www.todaysponge.com/