Diaphragms alone do not protect you from sexually transmitted diseases. Your partner should wear a condom to offer additional protection. A condom and a diaphragm used together will provide the most protection against diseases and pregnancy.
Diaphragms
A diaphragm is a dome-shaped form of birth control (barrier contraception) that is inserted into the vagina. When used with spermicide, diaphragms are 84% to 94% effective at preventing pregnancy when they are used every time you have intercourse. Diaphragms do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases, so you should also use condoms to help prevent STDs.
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3 AnswersA
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1 AnswerA
Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answeredA diaphragm is a type of birth control known as barrier contraception. The name is fitting, since a diaphragm forms a barrier that prevents a man's sperm from fertilizing a woman's egg and causing pregnancy. The diaphragm is used with spermicide, which destroys sperm. (Spermicide is sold as a cream, jelly and in other forms.)
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Boston Women's Health Book Collective , Administration, answeredThe diaphragm is a shallow, dome-shaped, soft rubber cup that fits securely in the vagina to cover the cervix. A spermicide is placed in the cup, facing the cervix, to kill or immobilize sperm and prevent them from entering the uterus and fertilizing an egg. Diaphragms, correctly fitted and worn, prevent pregnancy and protect against some STIs, including gonorrhea and chlamydia, as well as pelvic inflammatory disease and cervical dysplasia. Though they are safer than the Pill or the IUD, they are not as effective in preventing unintended pregnancy. For many women, the diaphragm is an excellent method of contraception because it is woman-controlled and has few side effects, but it requires consistent and correct use. Many women find the device inconvenient, since it must be inserted prior to intercourse, and messy, because it must be used with a spermicide gel or cream.
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Boston Women's Health Book Collective , Administration, answered
Advantages of using diaphragm are as given below:
- Can be inserted up to six hours before sex
- May help you know your body better
- Does not affect menstrual cycles
- Provides some protection against most reproductive tract infections
- Can be used during menstruation to contain flow during intercourse
- Has minimal side effects
- Its use is controlled by you
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Boston Women's Health Book Collective , Administration, answered
Disadvantages of using a diaphragm are as given below:
- Does not provide as much protection against HIV as condoms
- May interrupt spontaneity
- Requires a fitting at a clinic
- Needs occasional refitting
- May increase risk of bladder infections
- Can be messy
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Boston Women's Health Book Collective , Administration, answered
Practice inserting and removing your diaphragm before sex play with a partner. It can be awkward at first, but it becomes easy with practice. You can put the diaphragm in any time within six hours before intercourse or vagina to-penis contact. If more than six hours have passed, either insert an applicator full of spermicide into your vagina, or remove the diaphragm, wash it out, and start again.
- Put about 1 tablespoon of spermicidal cream or jelly (3⁄4 inch from the tube) into the shallow cup.
- Squeeze the diaphragm together by pressing the rim firmly between your thumb and third finger. If you have trouble, you can buy a plastic inserter (good only with a flat-spring diaphragm).
- Squat, sit on the toilet bowl, stand with one foot raised, or lie down with your legs bent.
- With your free hand, spread apart the lips of your vagina and push the diaphragm up to the upper third of your vagina with the cream or jelly facing up. Remember that your vagina angles toward the small of your back.
- Push the lower rim with your finger until you feel the diaphragm fit into place.
- You should then reach in to make sure you can feel the outline of your cervix through the soft rubber cup. When the diaphragm is in right and fits properly, you should not be able to feel it at all. Your partner probably won't, either, although some men notice that the tip of the penis is touching soft rubber instead of cervical and vaginal tissue. (This is not painful.)
Leave the diaphragm in for at least six hours after intercourse. You can leave it in for up to twenty-four hours, but not longer. Douching is unnecessary, and routine douching - or douching with commercially prepared douches - can disrupt the natural environment of the vagina and promote infection. If you choose to douche, you must wait at least six hours after intercourse.
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Boston Women's Health Book Collective , Administration, answered
Yes, but using a diaphragm without spermicide will reduce its effectiveness. Studies are now under way to assess the effectiveness of using the diaphragm alone to prevent some STIs. If you do not have spermicide, it is advisable to use another method, such as condoms, or have emergency contraceptive pills on hand.
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Boston Women's Health Book Collective , Administration, answered
It is not recommended that a woman leave a diaphragm in all day, but if a woman is unable to put it in before intercourse, this may be an option. You should remove and wash the diaphragm every day to avoid urinary tract infections and toxic shock syndrome.
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Boston Women's Health Book Collective , Administration, answered
As with condoms, only water-based lubricants should be used, because oil-based lubricants can damage the latex rubber of the diaphragm.