My sister was wondering about alternative contraception besides condoms. She is actually TTC, but had a miscarriage and is needing something to use in the meantime. (her doctor told her to wait as long as she was pregnant before trying again). She asked about the vaginal film, but I have never used it, and don't know anyone who has. Any insight to this that I can pass along to her? Thanks!!
Ha! I've used it, and my results now have a name and age...he's 14 months old. Lol. Tell her that if she wants good protection w/o condoms she needs to use actual birth control, like the pill. If she doesn't want to use b/c then she should use condoms AND a spermicide, such as the vaginal film. They are supposed to be used together because neither one of them is 100% effective.
Tell her good luck!
K.
Tell her to get the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility" by Toni Weschler, MPH. It is an amazing resource for all women. It will be a book that I buy for both of my girls when I have the "becoming a woman" talk with them.
Tell her to get the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Dr. Toni Weschler. It teaches how to chart and to conceive or not conceive when you want to.
GL!
I've used the vaginal film. It's not AWFUL but if she's going to try that , I would suggest just using contraceptive jel with nonoxynol-9. It's typically used in conjunction with another contraceptive (like a diaphragm) but you dont' have to... just use it alone. I think the protection rate of gel alone is like 80% (which is a LOT less than other methods but still it's something). The contraceptive film gets stuck to your finger when you're trying to insert it (no matter how dry you keep your finger, it still sticks). I've used the sponge and the diaphragm too. Diaphragm is fine, but you have to get a RX for it and get fitted by a doctor for it. I guess the best alternative would be spermicidal gel or the sponge, in my opinion.
I would suggest charting her BBT and/or using neem oil. I've been using this method for over a year and it has been extremely effective!
There is something called the 'Today Sponge' that not too many people know about she may be interested in looking into. There is also a diaphagm which some people may consider this to be outdated but it worked for my mother, she used it for three years after she had me. It doesn't have hormones, and that would be a good thing in her case. Spermicide jelly is also available to be used along with a disphragm, which helps also. If you want one, you have to go to your OB to get measured so that it fits properly. Just a suggestion of something different. As for the film, don't know much about it!
Have used the film, it is a spermicide but it doesn't have that great of an effectiveness rate, it's meant to be used with a condom or diaphragm. I don't know that I'd trust it on it's own unless she's carefully charting etc. and has a great idea of what her body does on a monthly basis. It does begin to dissolve as soon as it touches moisture so a sponge or jelly might work better.
The film irritated my husband. We won't use it again.
I used that film. Got pg too. I thought maybe I wasn't putting it in right, so wound up using 2 at one time. I can't see how I could mess up using it, I'm not a kid and am educated about BC, but something went wrong and I got pg. Not complaining now, because we have a great 2 year old now and he fits into our family perfectly and if I could go back and change it I wouldn't. Just wanted to know it's not 100% effective.
Good luck to your sister.
