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Cervical Cap
The cervical cap is not a method of
birth control that is widely used, and very few health care
providers recommend this type of contraception. If you are
interested in the cervical cap, be sure to check with your
health care provider to see if this method is
available.
What is a cervical
cap?
The cervical cap is a
soft rubber barrier that covers the cervix in order to prevent
sperm from entering into the uterus.
How does a cervical cap
work?
The cervical cap blocks
most sperm from entering the uterus. Spermicide is added to the
cervical cap to kill any sperm that may get outside of the
protection of the cap.
How effective is a cervical
cap?
Typical use, which is
the average way cervical caps are used, reveals a failure rate
of approximately 20%. This means that 20 people out of every
100 will become pregnant during the first year of use. You
should take a pregnancy test if you are experiencing any
pregnancy symptoms.
What are the side effects or health
risks of a cervical cap?
The most common side
effect from using a cervical cap is vaginal irritation. Some
women also experience an increase in the number of bladder
infections they have.
The cervical cap should
not be used by women who have:
Is a cervical cap
reversible?
Yes. A cervical cap does
not have any effects on either the male's or the female's
reproductive function. It is possible to get pregnant
immediately when cervical caps are no longer used.
How much does a cervical cap
cost?
There are three fees
associated with the use of a cervical cap: health care
provider's visit, the cervical cap, and the spermicidal agent.
The cervical cap can last up to two
years.
What about cervical caps and sexually
transmitted diseases (STD's)?
The cervical cap does
NOT provide protection against the transmission of sexually
transmitted diseases.
What are the pros & cons of cervical
caps?
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