Method |
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A woman uses spermicide to coat the inside of this silicone or latex thimble-shaped device. Then she inserts it into the back of her vagina so that is covers the cervix where it blocks sperm. |
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Success Rate |
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With typical use, 20 women in 100 will become pregnant in one year. With perfect use, 9 in 100 women will become pregnant in one year. |
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Benefits |
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It can provide continuous protection for 48 hours, no matter how many times you have intercourse (unlike the diaphragm, additional spermicide is not needed for additional acts of intercourse). |
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Drawbacks |
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Won't effectively protect against most STDs including HIV and can increase the risk of urinary tract infections and toxic shock syndrome. It only comes in four sizes so it may not be an option for everyone. Also, it has to stay in place for six hours after the last act of intercourse and then needs to be washed thoroughly with soap and water. |
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How To Get It |
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Through a prescription from a health care provider; the cost is about $35 to $60 plus the cost of spermicide and the exam and fitting for the cervical cap. |
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