Contraceptive film

[pinkdramon.livejournal.com]

What? What's contraceptive film? I never heard of that before. Well, I did, but, I didn't know what it does. I always thought it was like a dental dam or female condom!

I found out about contraceptive film in school today. I even got to touch one. Professor was passing all these contraceptive devices out in class as examples.

Appearantly it's a clear glycern & spermicide film, that you fold into a smaller square than it already is, and stick it up your vagina. Then if you're having PIV sex, wait about 10+ minutes, and the male puts the condom on as usual & this boosts your protection rate up pretty high. The professor SAID "99% effective," when combined like that, but I don't know if she's just estimating or just letting us know it's better than condoms alone.

The film dissolves while it's still in your vagina so there shouldn't be anything to fish out later.

It reminds me of those Listerene CoolBreath Strips.

And appearantly you can get one over-the-counter at most pharmacies. Without prescription. But you really do have to get it 'over the counter' since you have to ask for it specifically.

What? Wouldn't a film made up of glycern & spermicide cause all kinds of irritation? At least, in some women?

Does anybody use this?

Comments

[chitanoni.livejournal.com]

I've used it, and never had any irritation. Never had to ask for it from the pharmacist- it's located in the condom aisle with all the other birth control stuff.

I'm sure it can cause irritation in women who are already irritated by condom spermacides?

[kiki-da-vamp.livejournal.com]

I agree, its with the condoms. I also use VCF ( Vaginal cleansing film) also ( Vaginal contraception film). They both work the same way id assume

[malantha.livejournal.com]

They do cause irritation for a lot of women. I used spermicidal jelly for a while which caused a lot of irritation and frequent infections (until I realized what was causing it!). The film does the same thing.

Obviously some people are less sensitive to it than others so it's up to you whether or not the possible risks are worth the possible benefits.

[sarcasmoqueen.livejournal.com]

I've used it a few times, and what i didn't like was the... foaminess... it looked like my vag had rabies, lol...

[vaverine.livejournal.com]

I had no idea it foamed, lol.

That's the best mental-picture ever :D

[zellie-bean.livejournal.com]

I've heard it's REALLY difficult to place correctly. I saw it in the store the other day! :D Weirdest looking contraceptive ever.

[misplaced-nyer.livejournal.com]

I used to use it. And I never had to get it "over the counter" in the way you describe. I just went into a store and picked it up. It was right with the condoms and such.
Initally, it didn't bother me. But 10-15 minutes after sex it would kinda tingle and itch. But nothing horrible. Though, I can image it being excruciating to girls with sensitive vaginas.

[angel-eyes224.livejournal.com]

I have used them. As others have said, they are right next to the condoms. It was super easy to use. I just put it in before we started messing around and by the time we were ready to have sex the 15 minutes had passed! I didn't notice any foaming but I wasn't really looking. My husband didn't comment on it though. We only used them a handful of times because they irritated him really bad. We don't use condoms since I am on Depo and the film was just an added precaution. If the guy is wearing a condom though it probably wouldn't be an issue.

[storychick.livejournal.com]

I havent tried film, but I have used the suppositories (Encare is the brand I think) and the foam. I liked the suppositories a great deal, the foam sucked (this was many years ago, though, maybe I am dating myself lol).

The sponge is also great as a way of getting spermicide in there. I liked that best of all.

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

Here's a little bit of info, linked in our Vulvapedia, but from Go Ask Alice! (http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/1583.html).

My NP actually gave me a bunch of samples at my last visit, even though I was like, "No. Really. That's not going near my crotch."

And she was like, "Give them out as party favors." Even though I wasn't having a party. :)

(I should mention that I've told my NP in the past that my roomates and I used to keep a readily accessible communal bowl of condoms in our apartment. Which was then used by... whoever... happened by who needed a condom. So there was a logical basis to my NP's comment, and it wasn't as weird as it sounds here.)

I know I'm sensitive to both spermicide and glycerin -- plus, I am not currently having partner sex -- so I gave my samples away to a friend. Don't know how she's fared with them, though.

I realize this was probably utterly unhelpful, but I felt the need to share. :)

[ms-douchebag.livejournal.com]

I've never used the film, but I've used other types of spermicide (it was foamy...) and experienced some irritation with it. I work at Walgreens, and it's located on the bottom shelf of our condom area.

It's pretty damn cool what they can do to protect your vag from those crazy little spermy dudes!

[sacredlyprofane.livejournal.com]

I don't use it, but I've seen it right next to the condoms.

[nitrite.livejournal.com]

i've used it. i messed up two, because they're rather difficult to insert. :| i didn't have any irritation from it. i'm not quite sure that they even dissolved after the 15+ minutes, though.

[girlonthewing6.livejournal.com]

I've seem them at Target, with the condoms and such.