Cervical Cap Birth Control Information
January 24, 2008
The Cervical Cap is a barrier form of birth control that is placed on the cervix and forms a tight seal, preventing sperm from penetrating. It is a small (larger than a thimble but smaller than a diaphragm) rubber or silicone barrier device that is inserted prior to and for up to 3 days after intercourse.
It is reported to be 84-91% effective for women who have never given birth and 68-74% effective for women who have given birth.
Two brands of cervical caps available are Femcap & Lea’s Shield.
Here’s an opinion from one of our readers about the cervical cap:
“I used the cervical cap and it proved effective for me for nearly two years of my marriage. In fact, the only reason I became pregnant was because hubby and I went out of town without it.
Not being a fan of hormonal birth control methods, I liked the fact that the cap worked as a barrier method, but without taking away from the feel of sex as condoms do. Also, the diaphragm gave me urinary tract infections and I could feel it during intercourse. I never could feel the Cap at all during sex.
I like how the cap worked without spermicide which was messy and required interruption from foreplay. The downside is, it can be a challenge to find a practitioner who knows how to fit one or teach you how to use it (inside the US, that is. I hear it’s more commonly used in the UK and other places).
The diaphragm is easier to insert, and there is a bit of learning curve with the cap. Some women don’t like how they have to manipulate themselves to insert it, but I found that after a couple of tries it was easy for me.
I would put it in before my husband came home from work so it didn’t interrupt the mood, and I didn’t have to rush away from the act like you do with a condom or some other barrier methods. If things got frisky the next morning that was ok too, I didn’t have to add anything or change anything. The cap stays in place for at least 8 hours after the last act of intercourse but can stay in for up to 3 days.”
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