Quick Facts
Effectiveness in Preventing Pregnancy
- Of 100 women who use this method each year, about 20 are likely to get pregnant
- However, the risk of pregnancy is much greater in women who have given birth vaginally or who do not use the cap consistently and correctly
Use
- The inside of the cap must be coated with a special jelly that kills sperm (called spermicide) and put into in the vagina (covering the cervix) before having sex
- It must stay in place at least six hours after sex
- The cap must fit tight against the cervix
STI Protection
- No
Clinic Visit Required
- Yes. Cervical caps require a prescription, come in different sizes, and must be fitted by a health care professional
How effective is it?
Of 100 women who use this method each year, about 20 are likely to get pregnant. The exact risk of pregnancy when using a cervical cap depends on:
- If a woman uses the cap correctly, and each time she has sex
- Whether or not a woman has had a baby. The vagina and cervix are stretched by giving birth vaginally, which means the cervical cap may not fit as well
Advantages of the cervical cap
- The cervical cap is safe and simple to use
- It is especially effective in preventing pregnancy in women who have never given birth vaginally and who use it correctly and consistently each time she has sex
- The cervical cap is controlled by the female and does not require the consent of her partner
- You can put it in place before having sex and leave it in up to 48 hours
Drawbacks of the cervical cap
- Does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- If left inside longer than 48 hours there is a chance irritation will occur
- Requires a clinic visit and prescription
- Does not work as well in women who have given childbirth vaginally