Спермицидтер: сперманы жоятын контрацепциялық құралдар

Contraceptive that destroys sperm

Spermicide is a contraceptive substance that destroys sperm, inserted vaginally prior to intercourse to prevent pregnancy. As a contraceptive, spermicide may be used alone. However, the pregnancy rate experienced by couples using only spermicide is higher than that of couples using other methods. Usually, spermicides are combined with contraceptive barrier methods such as diaphragms, condoms, cervical caps, and sponges. Combined methods are believed to result in lower pregnancy rates than either method alone. Spermicides are typically unscented, clear, unflavored, non staining, and lubricative.

Spermicides are believed to increase the contraceptive effectiveness of condoms. and may cause urinary tract infections in women. The World Health Organization says that spermicidally lubricated condoms should no longer be promoted. However, they recommend using a nonoxynol 9 lubricated condom over no condom at all. Spermicides used alone are only about 91 percent effective. When spermicides are used in conjunction with condoms and other barrier methods there is a 97 percent effective rate for pregnancy prevention.

Temporary local skin irritation involving the vulva, vagina, or penis is the most common problem associated with spermicide use. Frequent use (two times or more a day) of nonoxynol 9 containing spermicide is inadvisable if STI/HIV exposure is likely, because in this situation there is increased vulvovaginal epithelial disruption and increased risk of HIV acquisition.

The first written record of spermicide use is found in the Kahun Papyrus, an Egyptian document dating to 1850 BCE. It described a pessary of crocodile dung and fermented dough. It is believed that the low pH of the dung may have had a spermicidal effect. Further formulations are found in the Ebers Papyrus from approximately 1500 BCE. It recommended mixing seed wool, acacia, dates and honey, and placing the mixture in the vagina. It probably had some effectiveness, in part as a physical barrier due to the thick, sticky consistency, and also because of the lactic acid (a known spermicide) formed from the acacia. A misconception about spermicides existed in the 1980s and 1990s. A 1988 literature review article noted that in vitro studies of nonoxynol 9 and other spermicides showed inactivation of STI pathogens, including HIV. But a 2002 systemic review and meta analysis of nine randomized controlled trials of vaginal nonoxynol 9 for HIV and STI prevention involving more than 5,000 women (predominantly sex workers) found no statistically significant reduction in risk of HIV and STIs, but found a small statistically significant increase in genital lesions among nonoxynol 9 spermicide users. And in a high risk population using a nonoxynol 9 vaginal gel more than three applications per day on average, the risk of HIV acquisition was increased.