Spermicides

What is a spermicide?

A spermicide is a chemical used for birth control. It contains chemicals that kill sperm. It comes in a number of forms, such as foams, jellies, and creams. A spermicide is inserted into a woman's vagina before having sex. It destroys the sperm in a man's semen before the sperm reach the uterus. Spermicides are not very good when used alone to prevent pregnancy. They work better when they are used with another form of birth control, such as a diaphragm, cervical cap, or condom.

How is it used?

Make sure you carefully read the label on the spermicide package for any special directions or precautions. Some forms of spermicide may be effective for just a short time. Some may take a certain amount of time to dissolve. Consider these differences when you are choosing and using a spermicide.

• Put the spermicide in your vagina less than 30 minutes before you have any sexual contact.
• Use the applicator provided with the spermicide to insert the spermicide high in the vagina around the cervix. (The cervix is the opening of the uterus.) The spermicide should cover the cervix. If you use a suppository, you must wait 15 minutes before having sex. Follow the package directions.
• If the spermicide has been in the vagina more than a half hour before sex, put in more spermicide. Spermicides work only if you put more in BEFORE each time the man ejaculates ("comes"). This is very important.
• Douching may make the spermicide not work as well. If you feel you need to douche, wait at least 6 to 8 hours after you have had sex. Remember that douching is not a way to prevent pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections.

What are the benefits?

The benefits of spermicides are:

• When used with other barrier methods of birth control, such as condoms or diaphragms, they are 90% to 97% effective in preventing pregnancy.
• No doctor visits or prescriptions are required.
• They are widely available in drug and grocery stores.
• They are relatively inexpensive, and they are convenient to carry and use.
• They help lubricate the vagina (creams especially).

What are the disadvantages?

The disadvantages of spermicides include:

• They are only 75% to 80% effective in preventing pregnancy when used alone during intercourse.
• The sperm-destroying chemicals stop working after a fairly short time. This means that if you are going to have sex, you cannot wait longer than 30 minutes after the spermicide is inserted into the vagina.
• In rare cases, allergic reaction to the chemicals causes a sensation of burning, itching, or redness.
• Spermicides do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases. A latex or polyurethane condom is the best protection against sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS.
• Some spermicides can irritate the skin around the vagina, penis, or rectum if you use them a lot. If you have an irritation on your skin with open sores, then you are at a higher risk of getting sexually transmitted infections, such as HIV. Avoid sexual contact until the skin is healed. If you have sex multiple times a day or have anal sex, it is probably better not to use spermicides. Use a new condom each time you have sex plus a backup birth control method in case the condom breaks.