5 Ways Use Cervical Caps For Birth Control

1. Barrier Method of Birth Control

A cervical cap is a form of birth control known as a barrier method. There are a few different caps to choose from, including the Fem Cap and Lea's Shield. Both are small pieces of rubber about the size of a thimble. This cap fits like a dome over the part of the uterus that opens into the vagina, known as the cervix. By creating a seal around the cervix, the cervical cap creates a barrier between the female's egg and the male sperm.

2. Use With a Spermicide

A cervical cap is most effective when a spermicide is in the cap before you insert it. If you use this device, you must insert it before having sex and leave it in for six hours after sexual activity. You can leave it in for up to 48 hours at a time, and there is no need to apply extra spermicide once you have inserted it. You can remove the cervical cap by placing a finger in your vagina and pulling it out.

3. Take Proper Care of the Cap

Wash, rinse and dry the cap every time you use it. Store it in the case that it came in. Don't dust it with baby powder or use an oil-based lubricant like baby oil or petroleum jelly with it, because these products can cause the cap to become brittle and crack.

4. Less Effective in Moms

Cervical caps are most effective in women who have never had a baby. In these women, it fails in 16 to 20 out of 100 couples over the course of a year. In women who have had a baby, this number increases to 40 out of 100 couples. If you do use the cap, it's important that it is fitted correctly by your doctor or another healthcare provider, and that you insert it correctly every time you use it. Cervical caps will not protect against sexually transmitted diseases, so it's important to also use a condom.

5. See Your Doctor or Family Planning Clinic

If you are interested in getting a cervical cap, you should go to a doctor and get a pelvic exam. The doctor will determine what size cap to prescribe and a doctor or nurse will teach you how to insert it. Some family planning clinics also provide cervical caps. You must replace cervical caps every year.