Where can I get a diaphragm?

[LucyLocketsPocket]

Tried GP and two sexual health clinics and nowhere seems to do them despite the NHS website saying they're available.

I was told my best bet would be to buy one off Amazon and watch a YouTube video on how to fit it! Which I would do, except I don't know what size to get and can't find anything online about how to find out.

Any advice gratefully received.

It's clearly listed on the NHS website and states it is free to everyone any widely available.

Sadly this no longer seems to be the case.

When I said no longer available, I mean the specific one I'd been prescribed.

Well it says contraception is free, but doesn’t say anything about “widely available”, under a heading about diaphragms and caps.

Slightly misleading I think.

I’m not sure it’s a feminist issue, I think it’s a demand and supply issue under a wider umbrella of free sexual health services.

It would be nice to have more non hormonal methods to offer women though.

I am concerned about getting UTIs as that seems to be a side effect of diaphragm use. Although that won’t be a problem if I can’t get hold of one!

They’d never occurred to me to use before as condoms were always fine. Now I’m pushing 50 and DH is older condoms aren’t ideal…I figure I’m less fertile than I was in my youth.

I never got a UTI
a more serious risk involves keeping the spermicide in the same sponge bag as your toothpaste when you go on holiday

Omg *Stillwerise

Anyone any thoughts? Husband had the snip today and we’ve been told to use alternative contraception til after it’s confirmed as successful (c12 weeks post op). I don’t really know what to do about contraception until then - we’ve just been abstaining whilst waiting as I had copper coil, had to have it out (intramenstrual bleeding and was at the end of its life) and then got pregnant, had termination (foetal abnormality) and we decided not to go down the child route. I don’t think I want the coil again as a short term
measure (it’s a pain to access and book appointments to get it fitted, then to have it removed months later, etc.) I am not up for hormonal contraception due to headaches / migraines and depression and anxiety, and don’t really see what other options there are. I’ve done a bit of reading about cervical cap (specifically Femcap) which seems to be recommended in US but which doesn’t seem well used here. Guidance gratefully received!

All that seems to be available is Caya and Femcap online. Femcap comes in 3 sizes: if you've never been pregnant (small); been pregnant but no vaginal delivery (medium); pregnant and had vaginal delivery (large). I think Caya was just one size. I did find quite a bit of info online from the respective makers, but didn't save the links.

At the moment, I'm still new to dating, so STIs are also a consideration, but longer term, I don't really want hormonal contraception, and am not keen on condoms, because of past experiences with a condom coming off inside, and a split condom (not that I drink these days, so that aspect is probably less of a risk.) I don't know if a diaphragm would work for me, as I have short fingers, and don't think I can reach my cervix - but it would be nice to have the option to try.

Of course, all these 50 yo men who are certain they don't want more children could go and get the snip, but as far as I can tell, they don't want to think about it, but as I've not known anyone that long, it not an issue,so have only had brief conversations about contraception. So far.

Thanks @EBearhug - I totally get the STI concern and that has to be a very genuine consideration whilst you’re still dating and getting to know one another. Longer term the options definitely drop off and our choice came down to snip mainly as a result of that - I had the copper coil for over 10 years and never had a problem with it but was surprised when I had my first period post removal as it was so short and light! I didn’t realise it had caused much longer and heavier periods but it did. That’s not to say I wouldn’t recommend it but it was certainly a consideration in choosing whether to go down that route again post termination. It seems (from reading posts today) that potentially the diaphragm is up for a come back but this might not be the first choice for someone who is concerned about the effects of an unplanned pregnancy as the efficacy rates are slightly lower than for other methods (8 in 100 with diaphragm vs