Encare - effective??

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-05-2006
Encare - effective??
2
Tue, 05-09-2006 - 9:54pm

Hi everyone,

My husband and I have 2 kids (2, almost 1), and we need a big, long break! I have been using encare spermicidal inserts with some success. Hubby won't wear condoms and since I am nursing I do not want to do the hormonal birth control. Can anyone tell me how effective statistically they are? I just have a hard time believing that a little bullet thing can kill all that sperm. I just don't want to have a 3rd baby until I'm really ready. Thanks for any advice.

-Melissa

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 05-10-2006 - 7:36am

This is a portion of what Planned Parenthood has to say about spermicides:


"Of 100 women who use contraceptive foam, cream, jelly, film, or suppositories, 29 will become pregnant during the first year of typical use. Fifteen will become pregnant with perfect use. Using a condom increases effectiveness."


So in how we usually refer to effectiveness around here, the typical effectiveness for spermicides is 81% and with perfect use, spermicides are 85% effective.

Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-05-2006
Wed, 05-10-2006 - 1:43pm

Thanks Judie! I have the Toni W. book, and I'm going to try that as soon as my periods come back. I'm not nursing full-time (baby is almost 1 and eating a lot of solids and the occasional bottle), so I can't rely on lactational amenorrhea. I also have a problem temp-ing since she doesn't sleep all night and I wake up still a lot at night, so I'm having a hard time using FAM, although that will be my first choice w/ spermicide once AF returns. :( Thanks again for the help!

Melissa