What if a condom slips off, or a divorced couple is unexpectedly intimate (for "old time’s sake") without birth control, or a couple runs out of condoms and uses only foam, or a woman is raped while trying to walk to her car after a night class, or a woman is two days late starting […]

Both the copper and the progestin in IUDs are effective in preventing fertilization. The ParaGard with copper seems to alter the tubal and uterine fluids, which affects the sperm and egg so fertilization does not occur. Mirena has effects similar to those of hormonal contraceptive methods such as the pill and Depo-Provera. It disrupts ovu­latory […]

Intrauterine devices, commonly referred to as IUDs, are small, plastic objects that are inserted into the uterus. The two IUDs are the ParaGard and Mirena (I Figure 10.7). The ParaGard is a plastic T with a copper wire wrapped around its stem and copper sleeves on the side arms. Mirena is a polyethylene T with […]

The diaphragm and cervical cap are individually fitted by a skilled health-care prac­titioner. The practitioner should also teach women how to insert it properly so that they are confident about using it on their own (Hollander, 2006). In contrast, the FemCap and Lea’s Shield do not have to be fitted. However, unlike the case in […]

The practice of covering the cervix to provide protection from pregnancy has existed for centuries. In 18th-century Europe, Casanova promoted the idea of using a squeezed — out lemon half to cover the cervix, and European women shaped beeswax to cover the cervix. In 1838 a German gynecologist took wax impressions of each patient’s cervix […]

Spermicides are less effective in preventing pregnancy than are most other methods, so they need to be used with condoms. Complete instructions for use come with each package of vaginal spermicide. For maximum protection, it is important to use the product as directed. Another application of spermicide is necessary before each addi­tional act of intercourse. […]

Foam, suppositories, the sponge, creams and jellies, and VCF all contain a spermicide, a chemical that kills sperm. When foam is inserted with the applicator, it rapidly covers the vaginal walls and the cervical os, or opening to the uterus (see Figure 10.5). Con­traceptive vaginal suppositories take about 20 minutes to dissolve and cover the […]

The female condom (I Figure 10.4) is made of polyurethane or latex and was approved by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration in 1993 (Beksinska et al., 2011). It resem­bles a male condom but is worn internally by the woman. In 2009 the FDA approved the FC2 female condom, which is made of softer […]

Correct and consistent use of the condom is essential for its effectiveness, but studies of college students have found that user error is common. Putting a condom on after vaginal penetration but before ejaculation is a common error that increases the risk of pregnancy and STI transmission (Barclay, 2010). The Let’s Talk About It box […]

Hormone-based methods cause changes in a woman’s body that inhibit ovulation and implantation. Another group of contraceptive devices c works in a different way—by preventing sperm from reaching an ovum. In this section, we look at condoms and four cervical barrier devices. In CD addition, we include vaginal spermicides in this section because their effect […]