Cervical cap

Cervical cap

An image of a cervical cap

The cervical cap is a reusable silicone cup you fill with spermicide and insert deep into your vagina before penis-in-vagina sex. The cervical cap covers your cervix and keeps sperm from entering your uterus and fertilizing an egg. The spermicide you use with it makes sperm less able to move. FemCap is the only brand of cervical cap available in the U.S. today.

The cervical cap looks like a little sailor’s hat, with a wide, upturned brim. There are three different sizes of FemCap, and a provider will figure out which size you need, which is based on whether you’ve been pregnant before and how that pregnancy (or pregnancies) ended. You don’t have to see a provider in person to get the FemCap, but you do need a prescription for it.

One super important thing to remember is that for the cervical cap to work correctly to prevent pregnancy, you need to use it with spermicide.

The cervical cap is similar in a lot of ways to the diaphragm, another barrier method that you use with spermicide. But the two are different in a few ways. The cervical cap has a removal strap that makes it easier to take it out, whereas the diaphragm has a small removal dome to help you take it out. You can also leave the cervical cap in for 48 hours, while you can only leave the diaphragm in for 24 hours. Finally, the diaphragm is more effective at preventing pregnancy than the cervical cap if you’ve ever had a full-term vaginal birth.

Details
The cervical cap is a reusable silicone cup you fill with [spermicide](/birth-control/spermicide) and insert deep into your vagina before penis-in-vagina sex. The cervical cap covers your cervix and keeps sperm from entering your uterus and fertilizing an egg. The spermicide you use with it makes sperm less able to move. FemCap is the only brand of cervical cap available in the U.S. today. The cervical cap looks like a little sailor’s hat, with a wide, upturned brim. There are three different sizes of FemCap, and a provider will figure out which size you need, which is based on whether you’ve been pregnant before and how that pregnancy (or pregnancies) ended. You don’t have to see a provider in person to get the FemCap, but you do need a prescription for it. One super important thing to remember is that for the cervical cap to work correctly to prevent pregnancy, you need to use it with spermicide. The cervical cap is similar in a lot of ways to the [diaphragm](/birth-control/diaphragm), another barrier method that you use with spermicide. But the two are different in a few ways. The cervical cap has a removal strap that makes it easier to take it out, whereas the diaphragm has a small removal dome to help you take it out. You can also leave the cervical cap in for 48 hours, while you can only leave the diaphragm in for 24 hours. Finally, the diaphragm is more effective at preventing pregnancy than the cervical cap if you’ve ever had a full-term vaginal birth.
###With health insurance If you have health insurance---whether it’s from work, school, your parents, the ACA marketplace, or Medicaid---chances are good that you’ll be able to get this method with no out-of-pocket cost. ###Without health insurance If you don’t have insurance or if you’re on a plan that doesn’t cover birth control, the cervical cap costs $110 on [the FemCap website](https://femcap.com/new/shop/), including the cost of getting a prescription. You have to buy spermicide separately, which costs around $1 per dose. The cervical cap should be replaced each year.
The cervical cap can be inserted up to 40 hours before sex, so you can put it in early, and it won’t get in the way of the moment. After having sex, you need to leave it in for six hours before removing it. You can leave it in for up to 48 hours, but if you’re going to have sex again while the cap is in, check to make sure it’s in place without removing it and insert more spermicide deep into your vagina. ###How to put it in With practice, most people are able to get the hang of putting in the cervical cap pretty quickly. _Here's how to put the cervical cap in:_ 1. Wash your hands with soap and water. 2. Check your cervical cap for holes and weak spots. Filling it with water is a good way to check---if it leaks, you’ve got a hole. 3. Put a quarter teaspoon or so (about a dime-sized amount) of spermicide in the dome of the cup (which is the part that’s going to be touching your cervix), and spread some around the rim, too. 4. Flip it over to the side with the removal strap and put another half teaspoon in the indentation between the brim and the dome. 5. Get comfy, like you’re going to put in a tampon. Some people like to put one leg up on the toilet seat cover, while others find that squatting gives them the best access. 6. Put your index and middle fingers into your vagina and feel for your cervix, so you’ll know where to place the cap. Your cervix will feel sort of hard but squishy, like the tip of your nose. 7. Separate the lips of your vulva with one hand, and use the other hand to squeeze the rim of the cap together. 8. Slide the cap into your vagina with the side that doesn’t have the strap on it going in first. The side of the brim that’s longer should go in first. 9. Push the cervical cap down toward your anus, then up and onto your cervix. 10. Make sure your cervix is totally covered. 11. After sex, leave your cervical cap in for at least six hours before taking it out. You can leave the cervical cap in for up to 48 hours total. If you have sex again while it’s in, first do a quick check to make sure it’s still covering your cervix and then insert more spermicide. Most types of spermicide will come with an applicator that allows you to insert it high up into your vagina, close to your cervix. The six-hour clock starts again every time your partner ejaculates in your vagina or on your vulva. _Here's how to take the cervical cap out:_ Once it’s been at least 6 hours since your partner last ejaculated in your vagina or on your vulva, here’s how to get the cervical cap out: 1. Wash your hands with soap and water. 2. Get into a comfortable position. Put a finger inside your vagina, get a hold of the removal strap, and rotate the cap. 3. Push on the dome a bit with your finger to break the suction. 4. Hook your finger under the strap and pull the cap out. 5. After you take it out, wash it with mild soap and warm water. 6. Let it air dry. Don’t use powders or lubricants on your cervical cap. (And it’s okay if it gets discolored over time, it’ll still work!)
There are positive and negative things to say about each and every method. And everyone’s different---so what you experience may not be the same as what your friend experiences.

The Positive

There are some advantages to using the cervical cap, including: * You can put the cervical cap in up to 40 hours before having sex. * You can have sex as many times as you like while it’s in, just check its position and add more spermicide first. * Usually neither partner can feel it during sex, although some partners can. * It’s safe to use while breastfeeding.

The Negative

It’s normal to think about side effects, but for many people, they’re not a problem. Some side effects may include: * Spermicide can cause vaginal irritation. * Some people get frequent urinary tract infections when using the cap. * It can get pushed out of place by large penises, heavy thrusting, or certain sexual positions. In addition to potential side effects, there may be some downsides to using the cervical cap, including: * Learning to insert it can take some practice. * It doesn’t offer any protection against STIs (and in fact, irritation caused by spermicide can put you at higher risk of STIs). * You have to use it every time you have sex, no matter what. * Inserting more spermicide can interrupt sex.
Do you have questions about Cervical cap? Visit Bedsider.org for answers to many of the most popular questions about this method of birth control.