Spermicide Experiences???

[JRBL]

Does anybody here have any experience with using Spermicide as their form of birth control? Ever gotten pregnant while using it? Anything? Just curious if I'm the only one out there... I have a couple of questions for anybody that's an experienced Spermicide user. :)

[SupermansLady]

I've never used them...but am glad you brought this up as DH and are pondering what methods we will use after this one is born. We know that more babies are not on the agenda for us for a long time, if at all! We don't want anything permanent (although he was scheduled to have the big V done this summer but finances prevented it). Spermacides are something I'm interested in...but have no clue how they work...so any help here would be great.

[JRBL]

Well, so far, our experience is with VCF (a small square of spermicide that you insert before inter.), and we have been using it for (I think) about four months or so, and so far I haven't had any positive pregnancy tests. I *have* read that it *can* cause irritation in *some* cases, but you never have a perfect solution to trying NOT to conceive. Isn't it funny how when you try NOT to, there always seems to be some "price" to pay? :)

Anyway... I am really interested in other's responses... this past month we haven't been as "strict" in our use of it, being as "careful" I mean, and well... my wheels are turning as to whether I'm having my normal "cycle" pains or if these are... well... early pregnancy symptoms. Only the end of the cycle will bring an answer but, meantime, I was curious who else has had experience (good or bad) with any kind of spermicides. :)

TIA

[kanaclark]

we use the gel. i like it, i supose.

[JoyLynn]

I haven't looked into spermicides for years, but back in the day, I did some reading about them and the thing that worried me was that if you do conceive while using a spermicide, there was a fairly significant chance of birth defects. :shock: Back then, it was recommended that the spermicide be used in conjuction with a condom or diaphram. We opted not to use the spermicide for this reason and decided to use condoms (without spermicide) and pray for b/c failure. :lol: Took six years, but one finally failed. That was our Courtney. [claploud] Anyway, maybe spermicides have been improved upon over the years. :D

[loveflag]

Joy [welcomewave]

[JRBL]

I looked into the whole "spermicides causing birth defects" thing... and I am stunned... *so far* what I have found has been inconclusive. INCONCLUSIVE!!!! I can't believe that!!! Can somebody tell me otherwise? I am open and willing (eager even) to hear I'm wrong on this one! Anybody?? Please??

[buttercup_97140]

When I went to talk to my doctor about B/C, and she's a believer, she said that she would advise me against spermicide because it could be abortive, and could cause birth defects because it harms or kills the sperm. She said really the only real B/C she could recommend with a clear conscious was barrier.

Any chance of something causing either a birth defect or abortion isn't worth it to me.

Blessings,
Amber

[JoyLynn]

I just found this link. Looks like the article was in the New York Times just today. Interesting timing, huh?

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9D0DE0D61039F937A35757C0A967948260

I found other info online that said there are no known links to birth defects, or that they're still debating whether birth defects showing up in babies conceived with spermicide present.

[heart]

Joy [welcomewave]

[ChamomileFriend]

I got pg with my first using spermicide with a barrier - I would either use the sponge, which has spermicide in it already or use it in my Lea's shield. I think that I may have used spermicide alone once - that was probably the time I got pg.

I had never heard about spermicide causing birth defects - PTL my oldest is ok!!!!!!!! :bow:

Dh and I are using condoms when I show any signs of fertility now - I am charting using TYCOF. LAM should still be in effect right now, but I still feel the need to check my signs.

[Cheeseburger]

I looked into the whole "spermicides causing birth defects" thing... and I am stunned... *so far* what I have found has been inconclusive. INCONCLUSIVE!!!! I can't believe that!!! Can somebody tell me otherwise? I am open and willing (eager even) to hear I'm wrong on this one! Anybody?? Please??

I am interested too!

My DH refused to use spermicide because he was afraid it might make a gimp sperm and it might get to my egg... LOL..

I have NEVER heard of the defects thing before though, I thought my DH was just paranoid, but is it true and what studies HAVE been done?