The Cervical Cap For Contraception
Contraception
Obie Editorial Team
What is the cervical cap?
The cervical cap is a contraceptive device made out of a soft rubber barrier that covers the cervix in order to prevent sperm from entering the uterus. In addition, spermicide is added to the cap to kill any sperm that may bypass the cap.
The cervical cap is a smaller version of the diaphragm. and made of a non-allergenic, durable silicone material. It comes in three sizes and is fitted by your doctor, based on obstetrical history.
The cervical cap conforms to your cervical anatomy and is designed to adapt to the physiological changes that occur during the menstrual cycle and intercourse
How effective is the cervical cap for preventing pregnancy?
With typical use, which is the average way cervical caps are used, reveals a failure rate of approximately 20%. This means that 20 people out of every 100 will become pregnant during the first year of use. You should take a pregnancy test if you are experiencing any pregnancy symptoms.
Unlike the diaphragm, most of the spermicide is put on the side of the cap facing away from the cervix. The cap can be worn for up to 48 hours.
Learn more about other birth control methods in our Birth Control Guide!
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A birth control patch is a small skin patch with the same hormones as in many birth control pills. Women can wear this patch on most parts of their skin including on the buttocks, abdomen, upper torso (except for the breasts), or the outer part of the upper arm.
Similar to the pill, the mini pill is a month-long series of progestin-only pills that must be taken every day (the regular pill has both progestin and estrogen).
The diaphragm is a dome-shaped contraceptive device which is made of latex and inserted inside the vagina to cover the cervix during sexual intercourse.
A male condom a contraceptive device made out of a thin sheath that covers the penis during intercourse.
Birth control pills are now more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy.