To wonder why so few women use the diaphragm nowadays

[Jemima232]

I am forever reading posts about contraception and wonder why so few women use the diaphragm or cervical cap nowadays.

I used both for years and found them very reliable.

No hormones, no coils leading to heavy bleeding/pain and no condoms.

Why have they gone out of fashion?

I don’t think it’s a big conspiracy, simple each woman chooses what works for them.

Plus the diaphragm doesn’t protect against STDs.

I used it in between pregnancies too and found it brilliant. My reasons were the same: didn’t want hormones or condoms. At the time the family planning nurse said they only recommend it for women like myself who were in a relatively stable life position and wouldn’t be devastated if they were to fall pregnant.

FWIW, I’ve had my second copper coil fitted now — so far, 12 years of hormone-free and trouble free contraception.

Because it's much much less reliable than forms of contraception like the coil/ implant etc

I used to use a silicone diaphragm and loved it. There are downsides however- you have to leave it in for a certain amount of hours afterwards. Plus can exacerbate utis if you're prone to them. And spermicide doesn't agree with everyone. Not to mention they are not as reliable as condoms, iirc, they are only 94% effective against pregnancy, and they don't protect against STDs.

Having said that, I found mine was a good hormone-free alternative to other contraceptions.

It isn't less reliable if you use spermicide.

Bit icky? Requires forethought and the needs to be left in afterwards for -is it around 12 hours? Jacques, most contraception doesn’t protect against STIs.

They are less reliable than other methods.

NHS pushes alternatives such as the injection or mirena - i suspect they work out cheaper. When I wanted a diaphragm I got one, but I had to go to a different centre because no staff at my local were trained in fitting them.

It isn't less reliable if you use spermicide

The failure rate is listed as 6% with spermicide so it is one of the least reliable methods.

Jacques, most contraception doesn’t protect against STIs

No I know, I was responding to the OP where she listed “no condoms” as a benefit.

If used correctly, with spermicide, the failure rate is said to be 5%.

I actually think the failure rate is lower and that most women don't use them correctly.

I used one for years - also a cervical cap - and never got pregnant when it was in.

It's very handy at the end of a period, for collecting the last couple of days' crap. You don't need a pad or tampon.

I think doctors discourage women from using them and encourage other contraceptive methods instead. I wanted to try one but the doctor talked me out of it, she said they are really not very effective. I don’t know how true that is but it put me off, and I think she would have been very reluctant to prescribe it and I would have had to argue for it which I didn’t really want to do

When I said "no condoms" as a benefit, I meant that there isn't the usual male (and female) dislike of using condoms to contend with.

As long as it's in and you've used the spermicide just before you have sex, you don't have to think about it.

I couldn’t be doing with all that hassle every single time. I have a coil and thankfully it suits my body and I’ve never had any issues with it, no heavy bleeding. The diaphragm isn’t safe enough for my liking either.

The main reason is that they seem really old fashioned to younger women. That's it. A bit like sanitary towels that had to be held up with belts.

I tried it once, My husband pushed it so far inside of me I thought I'd never find it again

Went back on the pill.

I've heard that here are fewer nurses who have been trained to fit them these days. It's really important to get the right size, and they need to be checked if you gain or lose more than about 7lbs. Also, other methods are more reliable. They went out of favour with many people when condoms, which also prevent against STIs, became more popular.

I used one for a while years & years ago. It was fine, but a bit of a faff. They were slippery little things when covered in the spermicide gel you had to use with them, I can remember having to chase it around the bathroom more than once. They could be awkward to remove, too.

If used correctly, with spermicide, the failure rate is said to be 5%

6% on the stats my GP gave me when choosing methods - using Trussell comparison into contraception.

As long as it's in and you've used the spermicide just before you have sex, you don't have to think about it

It would crush spontaneity for me.

I think that taps into my original point that women simply choose what works better for them.

@MonstranceClock

Stealthboast!!

I think they are brilliant. I don’t think women know enough about them or how they work. It’s odd really in a time of “mooncup mania” where everyone is trying to persuade everyone to have a mooncup (which I don’t, it’s too messy for me) people aren’t more interested in exploring the idea of a diaphragm which is sort of similar in many ways minus the blood etc.

And obviously different purposes before someone says it!

*I think they are brilliant. I don’t think women know enough about them or how they work.”

Or maybe they’ve made an educated decision they’re not for them?

I really wanted to use one, the pill was making me batshit and I wanted something hormone free.
Went to see the nurse at my Drs surgery and she looked at me as if I’d just landed, then rhymed off all the other hormone based contraceptives available 🙄
Anyway, I insisted, she said she used to fit them regularly when she worked in family planning but I’m the only one to ask in years. They don’t fit them at my local clinic. She did attempt to sort it for me, couldn’t measure me for one so had a random guess and gave me a prescription, which when I took it across to the pharmacy had no idea what it was and then had me telling them in front of a queue of people (cheers!)
Needless to say I gave up, we use condoms now and DH better hurry up and get the snip!

I had one as a student and asked for one more recently - I was told there was a safety issue with the spermicide. Can’t remember what though.