Cervical barriers and rough sex

July 3, 2013 12:57 PM

After years of experimenting with different types of birth control, I have an appointment to get fitted for a cervical cap. I'm curious to hear from other women who use this method how effective it is during rough sex and deep penetration. I know it's supposed to create a suction around the cervix, but how easy is it to be dislodged? Also curious about diaphragm and the Lea contraceptive.

I cannot do hormonal birth control. I'm late twenties, nulliparous, and I've had the Mirena IUD for 6 months and while the side effects are significantly less than the pill or ring, I've been having pain, cramping, and bleeding during and after sex. I've loved my Mirena, but hate it during sex and this has become a deal breaker for me. I have an appointment at my Planned Parenthood on Friday to have it removed and get fitted for a cervical cap.

I'm hoping to hear from women who use cervical barriers and engage in rough sex/deep vaginal penetration how effective they've found them. Do they dislodge easily? Do you have any advice to ensure a good fit? Anyone have experience with the Lea contraceptive? How noticeable are they to you and your partner during sex?

Thanks for any input!

posted by E3 to Health & Fitness (4 answers total)

Please feel free to memail me if you prefer not to broadcast your experience :)
posted by E3 at 1:01 PM on July 3, 2013

I'd tell you, except that multiple gyns in the US refused to prescribe & fit one, even after confirmation by the office that was a service they provided. Ended up with a diaphragm.

So, make SURE SURE you don't waste time on the table. Grr.
posted by tilde at 1:38 PM on July 3, 2013

Never tried the cervical cap, but my long-ago experience with the diaphragm was that it sucked itself onto my cervix with such tremendous force that it was occasionally difficult to remove. I once had to go in with a spoon to lift up the edge enough to break the suction so I could pull it out, otherwise I believe it would still be up there somewhere to this day.

Partner at the time never had any issues with feeling it during penetration. His main issue with it was that the spermicidal jelly tasted terrible and made his tongue go numb.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 2:06 PM on July 3, 2013

I have one and when I was fitted, my practitioner had me insert it myself so that we were both sure I had learned correctly. Before having one myself, if I had listened to the conventional opinions, I would have expected to find it on my pillowcase after an intense round of sex. Not so. I've never had a single problem with it performance-wise and I chose to get one after it was enthusiastically endorsed by a sex educator I knew (she had one herself and loved it). Neither my partner nor I ever noticed it.
posted by quince at 2:17 PM on July 3, 2013