Safe to put spermicide inside condom?

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-23-2004
Safe to put spermicide inside condom?
8
Fri, 06-25-2004 - 12:23pm
My boyfriend and I often put about a teaspoon size amount of spermicide inside the condom in hopes that if it were to break, the spermicide would kill it all right away. The spermicide we use is meant for insertion inside a woman before sex, but it is uncomfortable to me, so we just put it in the condom instead. Is this safe? Is it effective? I have read that you are supposed to leave a little space at the end of the condom to avoid it breaking, so will filling that space up with spermicide do more harm than good by making it more likely to break? Thanks a lot!!!
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Fri, 06-25-2004 - 2:45pm
Hi blondie121984,

In my opinion, it is not safe to add spermicide inside a condom especially if condoms are your primary method of contraception. The reason is that the friction of the latex or polyurethane against the dry skin of his shaft is what holds the condom in place. Anything that lubes the inside can reduce the friction and could lead to the condom slipping off. Just putting a bit in the tip could be a problem, depending on your anatomies, the strength of your vaginal muscles and how energetic you are during IC. If you grip him tightly you could force the spermicide up along his shaft or lube his glans so he would burst through the tip of a latex condom. When I’m protected by my Oves cap DF and I have a game we call ‘Oops!’ where just using his natural fluids we intentionally have an accident either bursting or stripping off the condom while he is inside me. I think with spermicide inside that just has to increase the chances of a condom failure. What was the percent of Nonoxynol-9 (N9) in the spermicide you were using? All you need is one with 2% N9. The higher the concentration the more likely it is that there could be a reaction to it. If one spermicide is irritating you might try other brands. If you aren’t allergic to the N-9 you could be sensitive to the gelling agent in some brands. Let us know what you decide, ok?

Good luck

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-23-2004
Fri, 06-25-2004 - 3:46pm
Thanks a lot for your input, Jill. He is pretty well endowed, so we have never had a problem with a condom slipping off, or even having spermicide sliding onto his shaft. I once heard a commercial for Astroglide, saying something to the effect of "if your man doesn't want to wear a condom, just put a drop or two of Astroglide inside his condom to change his mind" (b/c apparently they say it feels great.) I figured if it was ok to do with Astroglide, it would be ok to do with spermicide as well since they are about the same consistency.

As for what kind of spermicide we use, I really don't know how strong it is. It came in a blue box and the name was "Ortho Options." It's not so much that it burns, I just don't like how it keeps leaking out for hours afterwards (b/c it's the kind intended to insert, so it's quite a large amount, about 2 teaspoons.) We also use spermicidal condoms, but there is barely any on the outside so I don't really think that does anything. Do you know if they are really effective or not?

Still think it's unwise? I'm considering getting a cervical cap to use along with condoms b/c i cannot handle hormonal BC. It's just hard to fit in time for a gyno apmt when I work full time and also go to school full time. Thanks so much!!!
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-19-2004
Fri, 06-25-2004 - 4:06pm
I do the astroglide thing, too, and put about a drop on the inside of the condom and lube up the outside, as well. if you're not putting more than a drop inside the condom, I can't imagine that it would cause much trouble. Just remember that you still need to squeeze excess air out of the reservoir tip of the condom to prevent blowout. there shouldn't be enough spermicide in there to entirely fill the tip, either.

I've also never had a problem with a condom slipping off of anybody, except when they lose an erection. Maybe i've just been lucky. I can't imagine that astroglide would recommend something if it wasn't safe. Also, for the record, the condom doesn't "slide around" at all on my boyfriend when I put a drop of astroglide in it. he says it just feels like second skin, no motion or chafing or anything like that. I've always been under the impression that if a lubricated condom can slip around on a guy, it's too big for him.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-23-2004
Fri, 06-25-2004 - 4:23pm
Thanks klannert. I think I will just start putting less in there. Astroglide is not very thick, but the spermicide is more like hair gel so it's probably not good to use so much. Thanks again to both of you!
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Fri, 06-25-2004 - 5:59pm
Hi blondie121984,

I've used Ortho Options Gynol II gel, which is a 2% N9 product. When it's warmed it still seems a bit thicker than Astroglide and, in my experience lasts longer though it's not quite as slippery. A teaspoon seems a good bit to put in a condom. My point wasn't that the condom was loose (in our case they are actually quite snug) but that if you aren't careful with lube inside and you are actively participating using your vaginal muscles you might cause an accident. Perhaps it's just me, I’ve been doing Kegels for years and years... I suppose if you feel comfortable doing it and it hasn't given you any problems so far then it might work for you. Personally, if condoms were my only method I would be uneasy doing it.

Good luck,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-14-2004
Fri, 07-02-2004 - 5:58pm
Jill,

Could you give me a little more detail on your Opps game? That sounds interesting. How do you do it? Why? I'm just curious, hope I don't offend with my question.

Jenn

"Many Persons have a wrong idea what constitutes true happiness.  It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose."  Helen Keller
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Fri, 07-02-2004 - 11:39pm
Hi Jenn,

Check your e-mail.

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-14-2004
Sat, 07-03-2004 - 12:01pm
Jill,

Thanks for the wonderful information. I appreciate why you didn't post it here and sent it to my e-mail instead.

Have a great 4th of July weekend.

Jenn

"Many Persons have a wrong idea what constitutes true happiness.  It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose."  Helen Keller