Vaginal methods
Vaginal methods are contraceptives that a woman places in her vagina shortly before sex. There are several vaginal methods:
- Spermicides, including foaming tablets or suppositories, melting
suppositories, foam, melting film, jelly and cream.
- Diaphragm, a soft rubber cup that covers the cervix. It should be
used with spermicidal jelly or cream.
- Cervical cap is like the diaphragm but is smaller. It is not
widely available outside North America, Europe, Australia and New
Zealand.
Advantages:
- Safe, woman controlled methods that almost every woman can use.
- Help prevent some STDs and conditions caused by STDs--- pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infertility, ectopic pregnancy and possibly cervical cancer. May offer some protection against HIV/AIDS, but this has not been demonstrated yet.
- It offers contraception when needed. No daily action needed.
- No side effects from hormones.
- No effect on breast milk.
- Side effects:
--- Spermicide may cause irritation to woman or her partner, especially if used several times a day.
--- Spermicide may cause local allergic reaction (rarely) in the woman or her partner.
--- Can make urinary tract infections more common. (A woman can avoid this by always after sex).
A woman can begin using a vaginal method any time during her monthly cycle and soon after childbirth, abortion or miscarriage.
The diaphragm and cervical cap generally should not be fitted, however, in the first 6 to 12 weeks after full-term delivery or second-trimester spontaneous or induced abortion, depending on when the uterus and cervix return to their normal sizes. If needed a woman can use the spermicidal alone or with condoms until then.
