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Dear Dr. Kate, I was just wondering why it is so hard (10 pharmacies visited and still haven't gotten my prescription filled) to find barrier methods of birth control (not counting condoms)? Especially considering the permanence of a child and the many things that can screw with the effectiveness of hormonal birth control (not to mention the pain of having your cervix dilated for an abortion). Oh--also, I have read that there are non-nonoxynol-9 spermicides, but have been unable to actually find them anywhere. Do you know what they are and where to get them? Desperately Seeking Diaphragm Dear DSD, I think that it's supply and demand--diaphragms and cervical caps have become less popular in recent years. Patients have told me that they've switched to other methods because their barriers were "too messy" (both need to be used with a spermicide for best effectiveness), or they didn't want to stop fooling around with their guy to put it in. And the barriers are just not as effective as hormonal methods, with failure rates of 15 to 25 percent per year. Consequently, it can be really hard to get a cervical cap or diaphragm. I think your best bet is the chain pharmacies--if they don't stock these items, they can usually order them for you. Unfortunately, there are no non-N9 spermicides available in the US. N9 in all its forms (suppository, foam, film, gel, cream) is moderately effective at killing sperm--when used alone, it has a failure rate of 18 to 29 percent. N9 does NOT offer protection against STIs and HIV, however, and should be used only vaginally, no more than once daily. There are some other spermicides in research trials that we hope will also be effective against HIV and other STIs, but nothing's available yet. Have any of you had luck with diaphragms and cervical caps--getting them, using them? 5 CommentsLeave a comment |
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Ask a gynecologist or stop by a Planned Parenthood. They should both have either diaphragms or cervical caps (from my experience, they usually only have one or the other).
I got my first diaphragm when my son was six weeks old. My son will be 24 next month and he's my only child. They work.
Apparently, though, diaphragms are harder to get than they used to be, or, since I've moved to New Orleans, the gynecologists here don't keep them in stock. The Rite Aid where I brought Rx said they weren't in stock, but could get one. I went back weeks later, not having heard from them, and was told that the item was discontinued and that "the patient" (that would be I) had requested her Rx be returned to her. Uh, no.
I ended up ordering a diaphragm online from an English company.
That English company, by the way is www.westin.com, and my diaphragm, plus shipping, cost around $20. That was earlier this year - it may cost more now due to the dollar's downturn.
I always warn people about the dangers of N-9 (spermicide). More than half to population is allergic (many people who think they have a latex allergy are actually using spermicidally lubricated condoms and are allergic to the spermicide) to it, it breaks down cell walls making it more difficult to get pregnant when someone actually wants to, opens small tears in the vaginal lining making it easier to contract STDs, and is no more effective than using a condom correctly.
Spermicide is bad!
I'm sorry, it's www.weston.com, (Weston, not Westin).