Condoms, hormonal birth control, and abstinence are the most often promoted methods for preventing pregnancy, but spermicides aren’t discussed nearly as much. This is partially because spermicides aren’t the best choice for everyone. However, they might be a good choice for you as a backup method for preventing pregnancy. Before we discuss why spermicides might be a good or bad contraceptive option for you, let’s explore what spermicides are.

Spermicides are products which are designed to eliminate sperm. The most common active spermicidal ingredient is nonoxynol-9. Some people find this to be an irritant and can have painful, rash-like reactions to using products that contain it. Before using spermicides, it’s highly recommended that you test your reaction by rubbing a bit of spermicidal jelly on your wrist and seeing if you have a reaction. You’ve probably seen plenty of products that advise that you test their products on your skin 24 hours before use, but we really do stress that you take this advice seriously because spermicides will be going in or on your genitals.

Spermicides are meant to eliminate sperm, and sperm only. Spermicides can’t be used to target other biological agents, such as STIs. In fact, using spermicides will make it more likely that an STI will be transferred if one partner has an STI. While only some people will experience painful symptoms, nonoxynol-9 will irritate sensitive membranes (such as the penis and the vagina) and cause microtears in those membranes. Unless you are part of that population who reacts negatively to nonoxynol-9, you won’t notice this since they are so small. However, these microtears make it easier for STIs to enter your body or the body of your partner(s).

So if you’re interested in preventing pregnancy, and are sure that you don’t need to worry about transmitting STIs, spermicides may be a good method for you. We recommend it as a back-up method, since it’s less effective than hormonal and barrier methods, and since spermicides tend to be more difficult to use properly. You may especially want to consider spermicides if you or your partner for some reason can’t use hormonal or barrier methods (e.g. negative reactions to hormonal contraception, have run out of a preferred condom).

Spermicides come in plenty of different forms:

• The sponge: exactly as it sounds, a small sponge that is soaked in spermicide. It’s placed close to the cervix inside the vagina before intercourse and needs to be removed afterwards.

• The foam: spermicidal foam looks like a small canister of aerosol hairspray, but it comes with an applicator (it looks much like a tampon applicator) which you fill with foam from the canister and then empty inside the vagina before intercourse. Unlike the sponge, the foam will dissolve and doesn’t need to be removed, but it does have a tendency to drip from the vagina (which can be especially unpleasant if you have oral sex after intercourse).

• Vaginal Contraceptive Film: This product, also known as VCF, is a bioadhesive film that dissolves inside the vagina. Do you remember those Listerine Pocket Packs? They’re like that, but not minty, and for your vagina. There’s no need to remove it afterwards, and there’s no threat of it dripping like the foam, but you do need to be very comfortable with your vagina and able to easily locate your cervix and place the film over top of it. VCF is much less effective if it’s just slapped onto the side of the vaginal wall.

Each of these methods have very specific instructions for how long before intercourse they should be inserted into the vagina, and how long afterwards they should be removed. Be sure to follow the instructions on the packaging for the highest efficacy.

There are also diaphragms (used with spermicidal jelly), but they aren’t recommended for young people since they need to be refitted if your weight fluctuates and there are currently very few doctors who will fit diaphragms in Kingston.

The SHRC doesn’t recommend using spermicidal condoms because they don’t actually have enough spermicide to eliminate the amount of sperm in a typical ejaculate, but they do have enough spermicide to cause those microtears we discussed before and put you at risk for transmitting STIs.

To review, it is highly recommended that you only use spermicides if:

– you are trying to prevent pregnancy
– you aren’t concerned about STI transmission
– you have tested nonoxyl-9 on your skin and did not have a negative reaction

If that sounds like you, then adding spermicides as a back-up method could help you more effectively prevent pregnancy. If spermicides don’t sound right for you, but you’re interested in other ways of preventing pregnancy, give us a call or visit to discuss your options.

This blog is being run in conjunction with the Sexual Health Resource Centre, located in the JDUC, room 223. Follow them on Twitter @shrckingston.