OP: Condom says only once a day...???

The risk is minimal. The background is that the World Health Organization did a study a few years ago to determine if Nonoxynol-9 helped prevent HIV transmission. In the process they determined it could actually increase the chance of transmission. Here's why: Nonoxynol-9, the world's most common spermicide, is a detergent and it can have weakening effect on the skin allowing HIV to enter the body through microscopic breaks.

Governments and companies have over-reacted with warning such as you cite. The vagina is forty cells thick. This allows high elasticity and it also guards against these tears. The anus is one cell thick and tiny tears are common with anal sex. Males is same sex relationships do not need spermicide; do not use condoms with Non-9. I also recommend that heterosexual couples doing anal, they not use Non-9.

For vaginal sex, there is little problem. Non-9 has been used for over fifty years with, perhaps, 2% of all women having any reaction. For women who have some reaction, determine whether it is to latex or to Non-9. If it is to Non-9 look for products containing Benzalkonium or Octoxynol-9. Some spermicidal products use a combination.

The benefits of using a spermicide in the vagina are much greater than the risks. I have spent entire weekends pumping that stuff into me and so have millions of other women. Prostitutes often use a tube a week of vaginal jelly.

The risks, in normal sex, are very, very low.

Brandye

Posted: 28 Sep 00:46

Thanks Brandye. I wasn't about to stop using them all together. I was just going to get some regular condoms for the nights when one is not enough.

stormtrooperdude

Posted: 28 Sep 00:46

I was just reading something on the Trojan Condoms website and it said...

"CAUTION: Spermicidal Lubricants Are For Extra Protection Against Pregnancy. Spermicidal Lubricants Are Not For Rectal Use Or More-Than-Once-A-Day Vaginal Use."

To me, this says that more-than-once-a-day vaginal use of condoms with spermicide is in someway unsafe. So I would like to know if it is indeed unsafe, and if so, why.

VampireKitten

Posted: 28 Sep 20:48

The amount of spermicide on a condom is insufficient to be considered protection. There should be about 150 mg of spermicide in the vagina to protect. That is the dose given with most jellies, foams, films, suppositories, etc. The lubricant on a condom is more lubricant and they might as well add some spermicide.

The three chemicals currently used a spermicides have been used for about fifty years. During most of that time there was no warning. It has been discovered that Nonoxynol-9, which is a detergent, does cause some irritation of skin. It has little effect on the vagina whose walls are 40 cells thick. It has greater effect in the rectum whose walls are one cell thick. Therefore, you can reasonably assume that the warning is much more applicable to anal sexthan vaginal. The companies are covering their butts.

Many of us older women, in our young and crazy days, spent entire weekends with many applications of vaginal cream. And that was in the days of latex condoms that are much more abrasive than the poly usually used today. For anal sex, I would heed the warning; for vaginal sex, there is more risk in becoming pregnant than using plenty of vaginal jelly - as often as necessary.

If you experience any irritation, stop using what you are using and check labels of the spermicidal products at the local shop. Find one with a different spermicide. The warnings are directed particularly at Nonoxynal-9. I have no idea howm many gallons of that stuff I have used.

Brandye

Posted: 28 Sep 20:49

Brandye, I was wondering if you could answer a question for me? I am on the ring. Do spermicidal condoms interfere in any way with the ring, to the best of your knowledge? There is no info on this in the information packet that comes with my prescription. It says that you aren't supposed to use diaphrams in conjunction with the ring, but it says nothing of spermicides. Would the chemical in spermicides interfere with the hormones of the ring? I was planning on asking the doctor next time I go, but if you know I'd love a doctor's opinion in the interim.

If it does interfere, it's still not detrimental, because we use condoms and the ring... I was just curious though. Thanks!

browneyedgirl

Posted: 28 Sep 20:49

There should be no interference. The hormones from the ring are absorbed directly through the mucous membrane of the the vagina. There is no chemical interaction between the spermicide and the hormones and there is little spermicide on the condom. I suspect that the diaphragm is not to be used because the tablespoonful of spermicide used in the diaphragm would interfere with the absorption of the hormones. Given the original question in this thread (damage caused by spermicide), why use spermicide and the ring?

I have patients on the ring but none of them are using additional protection.

Brandye

Posted: 28 Sep 20:49

Thank you! To answer your question, I plan to discontinue the use of spermicidal condoms anyway. The last box of condoms I bought happened to be spermicidal, but I find them to be slightly irritating, so I was just wondering whether it is safe to use the rest of the box. I realize the ring is pretty effective, and only recently did my boyfriend and I decide to start using condoms again, too. It just seems like the more protection the better. I don't want to be one of those 3 women out of a hundred, as I really am not ready to have a child and I'd rather forgo the cost and trauma of abortion. Thank you for your response!

browneyedgirl

Posted: 28 Sep 20:49