Switching from a Diaphragm to the Femcap

We found a great blog post about one woman's switch from using diaphragms to the FemCap. Like many other women who have made the same switch, this user found the diaphragm to be inconvenient at times, especially when they had to change sizes. Unlike the diaphragm, the size of your femcap is determined by your birth history, so you use the same size until you give birth, then switch to a new size once you've had your baby.

Most FemCap users find it be more user-friendly and comfortable than the diaphragm. It's smaller, more modern and comes in a more conspicuous carrying case. Like the diaphragm, it can be used with ContraGel, the natural alternative to spermicide instead of the more generic, harsher spermicides that contain Nonoxynol-9.

Check out her story!

I've been a diaphragm user for most of my adult life and over the past few years, I've found it increasingly hard to get a hold of. I assume the difficulty can be attributed to the popularity of hormonal birth control and how prevelant it is in our society today. I found my last diaphragm about a year ago from this site:www.buydiaphragms.com. I was really happy with the diaphragm and the process of ordering online (which I was a little apprehensive to do at first). But last week, I went to my gynaecologist and she told me I needed to move up a size. I was a bit bummed because I wasn't planning on having to buy another diaphragm for a while. Then, my gynocologist told me about something called a FemCap, which is a cervical cap for women, which size is only dependent on a woman's birth history, which is more straight forward than the sizing of diaphragms. (it only changes if/after you give birth)

Read her full post here!

Capping the Time to Conception

Since a woman’s egg is only fertilisable for about 18 hours per cycle, it’s important to pinpoint that short amount of time to optimize your chances of becoming pregnant. That's where cyclotest baby comes in. This handy little device is a leading fertility monitor recently introduced into the UK from Germany. Using daily temperature readings and other indicators of fertility known as the sympto-thermal method of fertility charting, cyclotest baby is able to do just that!

After identifying the correct time, you can begin the insemination process using the FemCap included in the kit. The FemCap is the latest generation cervical cap, known as a modern alternative to the diaphragm, that is usually used to keep sperm out. The FemCap allows you to avoid all possible bumps, pitfalls and everything else that can happen on the sperm's journey to the uterus because it delivers semen right up to the cervix while protecting them from the vaginal environment. Once fastened securely right over the cervical opening, the FemCap holds the semen into place without giving any of the little swimmers a chance to escape! The FemCap is eased into place with Yes Baby's Fertility lubricant and can be worn for hours without the woman noticing.

This entire process ensures that each and every sperm in the semen has been giving the optimum chance of reaching it's final destination without being able to run away. The FemCap cuts off any escape route the sperm might take as gravity attemptos to pull them away from the uterus. It's recommended that the FemCap remain in place for 8 hours.

The home insemination kit allows you to take control of your own conception by pinpointing the best time for conception and safely delivering sperm to where it needs to be to get you pregnant! Save money and time on expensive treatments and clinic visits and do your own insemination at home!

Home Insemination Kits optimise your chances of becoming pregnant by identifying your most fertile phase and safely delivering and securing sperm right where it needs to be to foster pregnancy. Conceiving in the privacy of your own home has never been so simple!

FemCap - The Modern Alternative to Diaphragms

FemCap is a 100% natural form of reversible contraception. It is hormone and latex free and has been in production for over 10 years. FemCap is the only cervical cap approved in America by the FDA and has received the EU / CE 0050 certification.

So, What is FemCap?

FemCap is a cervical cap made of medical grade, hypoallergenic silicone rubber that is used in conjunction with a spermicide as a barrier contraceptive.

In order to be effective, FemCap must be used with a spermicide. Because of its all natural, chemical-free ingredients, Ethical Family Planning recommends ContraGel Green, the natural alternative to spermicide, to be used with FemCap.

FemCap Highlights

There are many reasons why FemCap remains one of the most preferred cervical caps among women. One of the best things about FemCap is that it has no effect on either partner's sexual desire or pleasure and allows users to enjoy more natural sex. It is a safe, effective form of birth control that is easy to use and can be inserted hours before intercourse. Therefore, it does not interrupt spontaneity.

It is inexpensive, reusable for one year and environmentally safe. FemCap is made from a non-allergenic latex-free material and has an advanced anatomical design.

On top of that, FemCap doesn't interfere with your menstrual cycle and allows your body's natural fertility cycle to remain in place. This also means that FemCap does not effect breastfeeding or breast milk.

FemCap comes in three sizes and can fit almost any women. The ability to select the correct size without the need for a medical consultation (although one is always recommended) is another reason why FemCap is so innovative. This empowers a woman to take better control of her contraceptive choices. Women who use FemCap have full control over their contraception because it requires no involvement from the male. FemCap is often favoured by health care professionals because of its minimal training time.

FemCap Disadvantages

There are only a few disadvantages to using FemCap and these are rarely serious enough to cause people to discontinue use. First of all, planning is necessary before engaging in sexual intimacy when practicing contraception with FemCap. Therefore, if you know you're going to have sex or are likely to have sex, you must plan a time to insert FemCap before getting sexually aroused. Also, because women are often unable to feel FemCap's presence, they may forget to remove it and leave it in for over 48 hours. To avoid this, women should use a calendar to monitor insertion and removal. Lastly, barrier contraceptives are slightly less effective than hormonal contraceptives.

Check out a close-up view of FemCap:

FemCap Sizes:

FemCap is available in three different sizes: 22mm, 26mm, 30mm. The size is determined by the rim’s diameter.

The smallest rim diameter (22mm) is intended for women who have never been pregnant.

The medium (26mm) cap is intended for women who have been pregnant but have not had a vaginal delivery.

The largest (30mm) is intended for women who have had a vaginal delivery of a full-term baby.

The only exception to these sizing criteria is if a woman had a spontaneous miscarriage and/or she was not aware of it. In that case, she would need the 26mm FemCap. If the woman and her doctor are unsure, they should use the 26mm FemCap to be safe.

Important Information

In order to be effective, Fem-Cap must be used in conjunction with a spermicidal gel such as Gygel or ContraGel Green. A woman should not use FemCap if she has an infection in her vagina, cervix, or pelvic area or a cut or tear in her vagina or cervix. You must read all of the instructions thoroughly, including the removal advice, prior to using FemCap. FemCap is FDA, NHS, Health Canada and CE approved.

It is interesting to note that intercourse only has the risk of pregnancy for about 6 days per cycle during your Fertility Window. A healthy egg is only fertilisable for 18-24 hours and sperm can't survive for more than 5 days inside of you so that span of 6 day (5 days before ovulation and the day of ovulation) are really the only time when barrier contraception needs to be used for pregnancy protection. Click here to learn more about identifying your Fertility Window for contraception

Watch - The official FemCap user-guide video

Barrier Contraceptives

Barrier contraceptives have been making a comeback in recent years with the use of condoms being promoted to combat HIV and AIDS and also as more women turn their back on the pill and look for non-hormanal alternatives. With the introduction of natural alternatives to spermicide such as Contragel and the replacement of latex with silicone, barrier contraceptives are becoming popular once again.

The widespread use of latex in the 1950's was a huge leap forward in barrier contraception. Condoms became widely available all over the world and women were able to take control of their own contraception using diaphragms. After a while, pharmaceutical companies realised that monthly pills would bring in more revenue than diaphragms, which only have to be purchased once a year.

This reaslisation coupled with more and more people recognizing latex allergies, allergies related to chemical spermicides and Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) brought about the rise in hormonal contraception. As a result, barrier contraception became less popular and experienced a steady decline, now that's all starting to change. Could barrier contraceptives be right for you?

Choosing the right barrier contraceptive is often as difficult as choosing the right contraceptive method in the first place. There are many factors to consider and it’s completely dependent on your individual needs and lifestyle.

Choosing barrier contraception in the first place is actually only one part of your possible fertility strategy. It should be remembered that intercourse only has the risk of pregnancy for about 6 days per cycle during your Fertility Window. A healthy egg is only fertilisable for 18-24 hours and sperm can't survive for more than 5 days inside of you so that span of 6 day (5 days before ovulation and the day of ovulation) are really the only time when barrier contraception needs to be used for pregnancy protection.

Remember, for the purpose of contraception you need only use barrier contraceptives during your Fertility Window, the 6-8 days per cycle when intercourse could lead to pregnancy. Click here to learn more about identifying your Fertility Window for contraception

Read on to learn about the different barrier contraceptives available and learn which one is right for you.

Cervical Caps, Diaphragms, Condoms or Contraceptive Sponges?

If you have used spermicide in the past, you know that it is most effective when used in conjunction with contraceptive barriers. Spermicide can be used with cervical caps, diaphragms, and condoms. These types of barrier contraceptives are usually made with latex or more recently silicon, which works well for people who experience adverse reactions to latex based products.

About Cervical Caps

The cervical cap is a form of barrier contraception that fits snugly over the cervix and blocks sperm from entering the uterus through the external orifice of the uterus. The external orifice of the uterus is called the os. One of the most popular types of cervical caps is Fempcap. Femcap is made with medical grade silicon rubber, which is perfect for users who experience adverse reactions to latex. As of February 2009, after Prentif Cap was discontinued, FemCap was the only FDA approved cervical cap available in the United States.

Lea's Shield was a cervical barrier device which was discontinued in 2008. Some sources use ‘cervical cap’ to refer to FemcCap and Lea’s Shield while others classify Lea’s Sheild as a distinct type of device. Terminology on different sites can be confusing, so make sure you understand which device is being referred to in your research.

All cervical caps must be used in conjunction with a spermicide in order to be effective. Because of it's chemical-free, all natural ingredients, Ethical Family Planning recommends the use of ContraGel Green, the natural alternative to spermicide.

About Diaphragms

The diaphragm is shaped like a dome with a spring molded into the rim and is made of silicone or soft latex. The spring creates a seal against the walls of the vagina. As is the case with cervical caps, many women prefer silicon based diaphragms because of allergic or adverse reactions to latex.

According to contraceptive technology, the method failure rate of the diaphragm used with spermicide is 6% per year. Annual pregnancy rates of 10 to 39% of diaphragm users have also been reported. These however vary greatly between the populations being studied. One of the most interesting things to consider about diaphragms is that they are as equally effective for women who have given birth as they are for women who have not. This is a characteristic unique to diaphragms when compared to other forms of cervical barriers.

Using diaphragms has been known to increase the risk of contracting urinary tract infections (UTIs). Urinating before inserting the diaphragm and also after intercourse may reduce this risk. The increased risk of UTIs may be due to the diaphragm applying pressure to the urethra, which is common if the diaphragm is too large. This causes irritation by preventing the bladder from emptying completely. However, the spermicide nonoxynol-9 is itself associated with an increased risk of UTI, yeast infection, and bacterial vaginosis. For this reason, some advocate the use of lactic acid based spermicides, which may have fewer side effects.

For women who experience side effects from nonoxynol-9, some sources have suggested using diaphragms without spermicide. One study reported a 24% rate of actual pregnancy per year among women using the diaphragm without spermicide. The women in this study were not fitted individually by a clinician and were instead all given a 60mm diaphragm. There haven’t been enough studies to recommend using diaphragms without spermicide, so you should still use both products together for maximum protection. We suggest the use of ContraGen Green, especially for women who experience irritation as a result of nonoxynol-9.

Diaphragms also come with the risk of experiencing toxic shock syndrome (TSS) however the actual chance of this happening is quite low. Out of 100,000 diaphragm users, 2.4 will experience TSS. This happens almost exclusively when the diaphragm is left inside the vagina for over 24 hours.

Those allergic to latex are advised against using latex diaphragms. There are only a few non-latex diaphragms available on the market. One of the most popular silicon based diaphragm brands is Milex.

About Condoms

A condom is one of the most popular barrier devices on the market. It is a contraceptive used during intercourse, most often by males, to avoid pregnancy. A condom can also be used to reduce the risk of spreading or contracting sexual transmitted diseases (STDs) such as HIV, chlamydia and syphillis. Condoms are placed over a man’s erect penis and act as a physical barricade, preventing ejaculated semen from entering the body of the man’s sexual partner.

Male condoms are user-friendly, inexpensive, have few side effects and can reduce the risk of transmitting STDs. When used properly during each act of intercourse, the pregnancy rate of users is only 2% per year.
Because of their elasticity, durability, and waterproof quality, condoms can be used for other things unrelated to contraception. For example, condoms can be used to create waterproof microphones and also to collect semen for use in an infertility treatment. They can even prevent rifle barrels from clogging.

Some male condoms are made with materials such as polyurethane, polyisoprene or lamb intestine, but the vast majority are made from latex. Female condoms on the other hand, are most often made with polyurethane.

Some condoms come pre-lubricated with a small amount of nonoxynol-9 spermicide chemical. Consumer Reports have concluded that these spermicide-lubricated condoms don’t actually offer any additional benefits when it comes to preventing pregnancy. They also have a shorter lifespan than regular condoms and are believed to cause urinary-tract infections in women. On the other hand, applying separately packaged spermicide to condoms is believed to increase a condom’s efficiency.

The failure rate of condoms varies depending on the population being studied and has been reported to be around 10-18% per year. The pregnancy rate of condoms used perfectly is 2% per year. For maximum protection, condoms may be used with other forms of contraception, such as spermicide.

About Contraceptive Sponges

Contraceptive sponges prevent contraception by combining barrier and spermicidal methods. These sponges cannot be reused or refilled and must be disposed of after use. The leading brands of contraceptive sponges on the market today are Pharmatex, Protectaid and Today sponge. Pharmax is available in France and Quebec; Protectaid in Canada and Europe; while Today is sold in the United States.

The Today sponge manufacturer reports a success rate of 89% to 91% for users who practice contraception with the sponge consistently and correctly. The success rate of users who do not follow the directions on the package prior to intercourse drop to 84% to 89%. Other sources report lower effectiveness for women who have given birth in comparison with those who have not (74% for perfect use and 68% during typical use).

The effectiveness of typical use of Protectaid has been reported at 77% to 91%, while perfect use has rates of over 99% per year. Studies of Pharmatex have shown typical use success rates of 81% per year. To further increase the effectiveness of condoms, implementing another method of birth control such as condoms could be beneficial.

Unlike Protectaid and Pharmatex sponges which come ready to use, you must run the Today sponge under water until it´s completely wet before insertion. Each sponge may be inserted 24 hours before intercourse. In order to be effective, it must be left in place for at least six hours after intercourse. Contraceptive sponges should not be worn for more than 30 hours straight.

The contraceptive sponge acts as a physical barrier that prevents sperm from entering the cervix and going into the female reproductive system. Spermicide is an essential component of practicing contraception with sponges and each brand is manufactured using a different kind of spermicide.

The Today sponge contains 1,000 milligrams of nonoxynol-9. Protectaid contains 5,000 mg of F-5 gel, which contains three active ingredients (6.25 mg of nonoxynol-9, 6.25 mg of benzalkonium chloride, and 25 mg of sodium cholate). Pharmatex contains 60 mg of benzalkonium chloride. The abundance of nonxynol-9 is often a concern of potential users. If you've experienced any adverse reactions to nonoxynol-9 spermicide before, you will most likely be irritated by sponges and should therefore consider an alternative form of barrier contraceptives such as the cervical cap in conjunction with ContraGel.

Women who use the sponge have an increased risk of contracting yeast and urinary tract infections. Leaving the sponge in for over thirty hours can cause toxic shock syndrome, therefore it´s extremely important to use sponges with proper care and attention. If you experience any averse reactions to the sponge, you may be allergic to spermicide and should seek medical attention before continuing use.

Have a look at our video below and articles on Fertility Awareness, the Sypto-Thermal method of contraception and Contraceptive Monitors like Cyclotest to learn more about natural contraception and fertility.