Spermicide questions...

[2-1-5.livejournal.com]

Alright so I have Interstitial Cystitis and generally sensitive skin. Since I live with my longterm boyfriend we don't use condoms unless I fuck up my bC pills or something. thats the background story.
But I've stopped taking the pills this month while I'm imbetween prescriptions so we need to use a condom. The thing is the last time we used a condom I had severe urethra pain for about a week afterwards. I asked my gyno about it and she told me to
a)use a condom without spermicide
or b) use a condom without lubrication

I can't remember which, but I'm pretty sure it was w.o spermicide... But if I'm not on the pill currently, is it anti-pregnancy safe to have sex with a condom w.o spermicide? And, if so, are those common enough to find at my local walgreens?

Comments

[jennnk.livejournal.com]

the amt. of spermicide on a condom isn't enough to kill all the sperm a guy makes, anyway. just get unlubricated condoms & add your own non-spermicidal lube.

[rosalyn.livejournal.com]

...

A condom without lubrication is pretty useless. Without enough lube, the condom will break from friction, and also the friction just doesn't feel good for anyone.

I have read several places (which I can't think of right now) that spermicidal condoms/lubricants can cause UTIs. The spermicide is slightly irritating and causes microscopic cuts in the skin. Nonoxynol-9 is no longer recommended as a spermicide for that reason. There was a post in here about it, actually, a few months ago.

Condoms without lube are a rare find because they are so useless. I don't know if the spermicide on condoms is enough to work or not; some people probably just prefer that added illusion of security. Just read the label. You can find lubricated condoms without spermicide anywhere from a free clinic to Walgreens to 7-11.

[softanimal.livejournal.com]

i don't have an answer to your question but i have IC too. there's an IC community on livejournal: i_cystitis .. you should check it out.
xo.

[sqrfruit.livejournal.com]

You can find un-lubricated condoms anywhere that sells condoms. I don't agree with the poster above who said that un-lubricated condoms are useless. Sometimes people prefer to buy their own lube, or they make enough of it on their own. You do need to make sure that there is adequate lubrication involved, which is good advice for any sexual activity. ;)