Has anyone used a diaphragm?

[hungryfortheinvisible]

And if so, what did you think of it? I can't use hormonal contraception and after a recent awful experience with the copper coil, I'm looking for an alternative to condoms. Does anyone have any advice?

I used to use one in the 80s. I well remember the well oiled eel chasing round the bathroom thing, when smothered in spermicide they are slippery little beggars

Can you put it in and then add spermicide after? I know you can do that (and should) without removing it if you have sex a second time within the timeframe.

You're supposed to put spermicide around the rim & across both sides of it before you put it in - which is why it gets so slippery. You are then ok for about 6 hours then you need to add more spermicide.

I used to use one and for the most part it was fine, but occasionally the angle would shift or something and it would trigger awful bouts of cystitis. And DD and her nursery friend once found it and I walked in to them playing 'aliens' with my (clean thank God) diaphragm flying around like a mini flying saucer......

I used one in the 80s for awhile. It was ok but the thing was huge, you had to lube it up with the spermicidal jelly, then sort of fold it in half to insert it, (they seemed to be spring-loaded) and once there it would then magically snap back into place.
That was the theory. In reality it could unfold at any point after it was covered in the slithery jelly and more than once it snapped back, flew out of my hand and hit me in the face. Or bounced off the bathroom mirror.

Has anyone used the ones you can get on amazon that don’t need fitting? They start with a C (capaya?). Never know whether the C one could be used with condoms as well or if it risks damaging them

I mean Caya www.drfertility.co.uk/products/caya-diaphragm?gclid=CLSitPbS3eICFUxB0wodOcELvg

I had a caya diaphragm from the gp a few years ago, they're an updated design/shape and a 'one size fits all' so they don't need fitting by a gp/nurse now.

Used an old shaped one for 5yrs prior to conceiving Dd (4yr old) and I got pregnant second month of trying so it obviously worked at preventing pregnancies. Then had the caya at 6mo pp and have used that since, bar a break for another pregnancy.

They're handy in that can put it in prior to sex so no annoying pause, I used to leave mine in overnight and then remove in morning.

As long as you use the spermicide jelly they work well, the diagraphm is basically a method of keeping the jelly against your cervix until it killed the sperm I think.

The icky part - you just have to use your imagination for what it is like when you take it out. Then you wash it with soap and water and it is ok again. It is quite good for when you have light days of your period - works like a moon cup. Probably would struggle on heavy days.

Yes your partner can feel it a bit, but probably less disruptive than condoms.

I enquired a while ago but the family planning clinic seemed a bit bemused that I'd want one. I was also told that I'd need to be re-fitted any time my weight changed by 7lbs and at the time I was dieting with several stones to lose, so it seemed pointless.

I had to stop using mine last year because the spermicide (gygel) was discontinued (the spermicidal ingredient increases the risk of HIV transmission, if I remember correctly). I was told there was no alternative spermicide and so the diaphragm became pointless.

Are the cap and the diaphragm different things? I assumed they were the same.

Disappointing that they're hard to get hold of. I can't use hormonal contraception, and I've never had a child so i think a copper coil would be too painful / invasive.

Iirc the cap is like a moon cup but I'm not 100%.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/contraceptive-diaphragm-or-cap/