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| Contraception - pessaries, foam and cream |
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Reviewed by Dr David Delvin, sexual
medicine expert
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Among the less reliable
contraceptive methods
for women is the use of chemical-containing agents like pessaries, foams,
jellies or creams, which can be inserted into the vagina . All of them are
spermicidal - that is , they contain a chemical (nearly always one called
nonoxinol-9) that kills sperm.
They can all be bought over the counter in chemists, but in the
UK are very often issued on free prescription at Family Planning Clinics.
General practitioners can also write prescriptions for them, but this is not
common.
What you must be aware of
It is important to be aware that chemicals are not a lot of use
on their own. Until quite recently, some brands of pessary and gel were
promoted to the public as reliable contraceptives – but their makers’ faith in
them was not really justified.
So we strongly recommend that you only use chemicals as a way of
increasing the efficiency of other methods of contraception.
Some products still come with literature indicating that they
could be used on their own, but we suggest that you ignore that
advice.
In fact all chemical contraceptives that are available in
Britain should be used with barrier methods of contraception, such as
condoms (male or
female) and
diaphragms. They must
be inserted into the vagina shortly before sexual intercourse. They only work
for 30 to 60 minutes. If you continue having sex after this time you must
insert another ‘dose’ into the vagina.
Used on their own, chemicals will not protect you from
sexually transmitted
diseases (STDs), despite the fact that they have a slight anti-germ
action.
What chemical contraceptive products are available
Until about the beginning of this century, there was a very wide
range of chemical contraceptives available from chemists. However, as
spermicidal methods have become less popular, the choice of brands has been
sharply reduced.
Indeed, the number of products generally available for
prescription in the UK has been reduced to just one. However, you would
certainly be able to obtain other brands on the Continent, or by mail order
from abroad, or via the internet.
The only type of chemical contraception that remains generally
available in Britain is:
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– a colourless, odourless gel, which can be
inserted into the vagina with a special applicator (and also spread on a cap or
diaphragm).
How do I learn to use these products?
Instructions are provided with them. However, by far the best
thing is to be taught how to use them by a specially-trained nurse or
doctor.
In Britain, the majority of women who employ chemical
contraceptives have been taught how to use them by the nurses or doctors at
Family Planning Clinics.
In particular, the medical/nursing staff can demonstrate to you
the technique of applying spermicides to a cap or diaphragm in such a way as to
make it very difficult for sperms to ‘get through’ to the womb.
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Based on a text by Dr Erik Fangel Poulsen, specialist
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Last updated 13.05.2008
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