cervical cap

The facts: The cervical cap is a barrier method that a woman inserts into her vagina before sex. It is a shallow cap made of soft, latex rubber that prevents pregnancy by creating a barrier over the cervix and holding spermicide against the cervix. This method provides only limited, if any, protection from HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

How well it works: About 80 percent effective in preventing pregnancy in women who have not already had children and 60 percent effective in preventing pregnancy in women who have had children.

Pros:
• Does not contain hormones.
• Does not require direct involvement of the male partner.
• Does not interrupt intercourse.
• Few health risks or side effects are associated with cervical caps.

Cons:
• Provides only limited, if any, protection from HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
• Not as effective in preventing pregnancy as other birth control methods such as the male condom, the birth control pill or the shot.
• Requires action before or during and after sex, and can be difficult to insert.
• Side effects may include increased urinary tract infections, allergic reactions to latex or irritation from spermicides.

Where to get it: Visit your health care provider or a family planning clinic to get a cervical cap.

Cost: Cervical caps require an initial visit with a clinician, which can cost from $50 to $150. The cap itself lasts for about a year and costs approximately $30 to $40. Tubes of spermicidal creams, jellies and foam and packages of suppositories that are used along with the cap cost from $8 to $17. Medicaid and some private health insurance plans may cover most or some of these costs. Many family planning clinics provide services and supplies free or on a sliding scale, based on your income.