3 Ways to Use Spermicides for Birth Control

1. The Combination That Works

Buy spermicides without a prescription at your local drugstore. They are a relatively inexpensive form of birth control and are easily available. However, the failure rate of spermicides as a birth control method is 25 to 50 percent. Use spermicides with a barrier method of contraception, such as a condom or diaphragm, to significantly decrease the failure rate.
Spermicides kill sperm before they have a chance to fertilize a woman's egg. Some products are effective immediately, while others must be applied a short time before sex. One dose of spermicide will not protect you all night long. You must insert a fresh dose of spermicide each time you have sexual intercourse and not douche for at least 6 hours following sex. Read the instructions that come with your spermicide product to make sure you use it correctly.

2. Options Abound

Take a look at the variety of spermicidal products available at your local drugstore. Gels and foams are more likely to be immediately effective than other types of spermicide. An applicator, similar to a tampon applicator, is sold with spermicidal gel or foam. Read the product instructions to make sure your spermicide begins to work immediately after application.
A spermicidal suppository must be inserted 15 minutes before sexual intercourse. It is inserted into the woman's vagina without the use of an applicator. Make sure it is pushed as far up the vaginal canal as possible, near the cervix, for optimal birth control.
Vaginal contraceptive film is a 2-inch-square sheet of film containing spermicide. It is placed over the cervix and begins to dissolve almost immediately. To be effective, it must be put in place within 1 hour of sexual intercourse. Contraceptive film produces almost no discharge compared with other spermicide products.

3. No Protection Against STDs

Use a condom to protect against HIV or most other sexually transmitted diseases because spermicides will not do the job. If spermicides irritate your vagina, penis or rectum, your chance of contracting an STD or HIV from an infected partner increases. Dispel any impression you may have had that nonoxynol-9, the active ingredient in many spermicides, protects against STDs. The Federal Drug Administration issued a specific warning on this topic to dispel the myth that nonoxynol-9 provided protection against STDs. Human trials revealed spermicides not only provide no protection, but they also increase the chances of contracting STDs. Use a condom in addition to a spermicide for more effective birth control and protection against most STDs.