Cervical Cap: Contraceptive, How To Use & Effectiveness

Cervical Cap – In the contraceptive market where many hormonal contraceptive methods and the most popular contraceptive like condoms can be used once, there comes cervical caps which provide women with an option that is reuseable, and non-hormonal. Also, its size is even smaller than mensural cups and can be inserted hours before sexual intercourse. According to the CDC, cervical caps are about 71-86% effective. Let’s try to under cervical caps in detail.

What is cervical cap?

It is an object made from a soft rubber or silicon that comes in different sizes small, medium, and large which one can fit completely on a woman’s cervix it is used as a contraceptive that blocks sperm from reaching the uterus. It can be used once approved by a medical expert. Sometimes, cervical cap will be FemCap.

How does cervical cap work?

It’s a contraceptive that prevents sperm from reaching inside your uterus and taking part in the fertilization process with eggs. This cap acts as a closed door as it blocks service to the entrance of the uterus. Even spermicide, a chemical contraceptive is used at the outer layer of these caps to destroy sperm before it enters the uterus as an additional precaution.

How much effective cervical caps are?

The effectiveness of cervical caps varies, it does have different effectiveness levels for those who have given birth and for those who haven’t. As during childbirth vagina and cervix already get stretched a lot, that can create a fitting issue for females who have given birth. About 86% is effective for those who haven’t given birth and 71% for the women who have given birth before. Its effectiveness also depends on the correct fitting and usage, for its better results after each use, it should be washed with mild soap and dried and stored carefully.

According to the Pearl Index, 89% of women in general are pleased with using it with single-year continuation rates of 51%. One of the most notable findings is that most pregnancies take place in the first 3 months after cap use starts. These results suggest a vaginal contraceptive effectiveness similar to that of the diaphragm and an acceptably high continuation rate as well.

How to use cervical caps?

It can be used without much hustle with practice, take help from a medical expert, and follow the steps on the packaging carefully. It needs to be checked before inserting whether it is damaged or not, if damaged dispose of it else, it should be fitted tightly, covering the cervix properly.

Cervix cap can be put in by following steps-

Clean your hands first.
A spermicide should be applied inside the cervical cap or around the dome and around the flat edge of the rim.
For additional protection, apply more spermicide to the groove between the dome and rim.
Insert a finger into your vagina and gently feel for the cervix, push the cap far as it might reach.
After sexual intercourse, keep it like that for only a minimum of 6 hours.
Compress and push it against the dome and with the help of a strap pull off the cap outside.
Wash it with mild soap and after drying keep it carefully in its case.

What are the advantages of cervical caps?

It provide a hormonal free contraceptive option, that gives control and flexibility to the individual. Its smaller size and reusability make it more beneficial, it’s easy to carry hence making it more portable, and can be inserted hours before sexual intercourse which helps the individual not to think about protection during the private moment. Even there are many people who suggest that it doesn’t feel like it’s even there making the experience much more comfortable. It also lasts for about a year hence making it much more cost effective than other contraceptive methods.

What are the disadvantages of cervical caps?

One might feel irritation because of spermicides and can face skin allergies as well, vaginal discharge and strong odor can be faced. Even for many women, it is difficult to insert and you if keep wearing that for more than 48 hours it can even lead to toxic shock syndrome. Even sometimes allergy to silicon can be there. If not fitted well it can move during intercourse and might lead to pregnancy. Extensive use of spermicide can increase the chances of HIV.

When to consult a doctor?

If one is feeling irritation near the pelvic region or pain in the vagina, vaginal discharge with an unusual smell or you are not able to find the right fit and not able to use cervical caps one should connect with the doctor for help. When you have used FemCap for more than 48 hours (that’s very rare though) and experiencing dizziness, rashes, fever, vomiting, etc.

A note from kamarth

Cervical caps provide women with a non-hormonal and reusable option for a healthy sexual life, reducing the risk of getting pregnant. A person should use it only after the recommendation of a medical expert. Also, if the person is using FemCap for the first time it’s always recommended to get the help of a medical expert and practice it properly for future uses. Following proper guidelines for usage and cleaning it regularly will help reduce the possible risks, and also ensure a longer lifetime.

Some Additional Doubts

Question: Can cervical cap be an option during menstruation?
Answer: It should not be preferred during periods as it increases the risk of toxic shock syndrome (TSS).

Question: Who should not use a cervical cap?
Answer: This method might not work for women who have had toxic shock syndrome, recurrent UTIs, or an issue with their anatomy that may prevent a cap from fitting properly.

Question: Should teens use cervical caps?
Answer: Generally, no, it is more difficult to use and has a lower effectiveness so it may not be the best choice for teens compared with other methods.

Question: Is it essential to use spermicide along with a cervical cap?
Answer: It must be used with spermicide every time so that the effectiveness is the most.

Question: Does cervical cap hurt during sexual intercourse?
Answer: If it is placed in the right way, it should not be felt by both partners during intercourse.

References