Vaginal Spermicides: Are They The Right Choice?
In recent years vaginal spermicides have become quite popular as contraceptive methods. They were initially designed for use with a diaphragm, but are now being used even without diaphragms. There are various types of vaginal spermicides such as jellies, foams, vaginal suppositories and creams.
Creams and jellies usually come in tubes with an applicator that can be fixed atop the opening of the tube and applied to the vagina. Foams are available in aerosol bottles or metallic containers with an applicator that can be attached to the nozzle.
How to use vaginal spermicides?
At least 30 minutes before sexual intercourse the creams, jellies and foams should be inserted into the vagina through the cervical opening. The effectiveness of vaginal spermicides tends to decrease after about an hour of application making it essential to re-apply it in case you intend having sex beyond that time. A fresh application is required prior to every single act of intercourse.
The spermicidal suppository is also very popular among women and can be easily inserted into the vagina like a tampon. The suppository dissolves inside the vagina with the help of body heat. Therefore, it is essential for you to wait at least 10 minutes before having intercourse.
Like all other vaginal spermicides, the effects of a suppository also last for about an hour beyond which you need to insert a fresh one in the vagina. Also, prior to indulging in every act of intercourse, you need to insert a new suppository.
One of the latest arrivals in the market is a vaginal contraceptive pill (VCP) that is a 2 inch square shaped paper thin film containing spermicide. It is wrapped around the fingers and placed in the vagina and dissolves in 10 minutes. It remains active for about 1.5 hours.
Advantages and disadvantages of vaginal spermicides:
The biggest advantage of vaginal spermicides is that they are very simple to use and limited to every act of sexual intercourse which means that their use can be discontinued at any point of time. They are easily available at most drugstores and also provide some protection against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) but cannot be substituted for condoms in case of HIV.
On the flipside you need to insert them shortly before having sex, which might be a real nuisance for some couples. Use of vaginal spermicides also results in an increase in vaginal fluids which can be quite annoying for some women.
The biggest disadvantage of vaginal spermicides is that they disrupt the balance of bacteria in the vagina and increase the risk of urinary tract infections (UTI).
The rates of effectiveness of vaginal spermicides tend to vary and are largely dependant on how carefully the instructions are followed. Failure rate during the first year is as high as 21%. It is advisable to use vaginal spermicides with other barrier contraceptives.
| Products for Men | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kohinoor Gold - Trusted by Millions of Customers | ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
| St.Botanica Butea Superba Gel | ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
| St.Botanica Breast Enlargement Cream | ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
| St Botanica Vagina Tightening Cream | ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
Posted by: editor7
