Cervical cap: Frequency Asked Questions
Can my partner feel the cervical cap?
Most men are not able to feel the cervical cap. Some men may feel it during intercourse, but it shouldn’t be uncomfortable for either of you.
How effective is the cervical cap at preventing pregnancy?
This one’s a little confusing. We only know about the effectiveness of the cervical cap based on typical use (not perfect use) and it’s between 71% and 86%, depending on whether a woman has been pregnant before and what size of a cap she uses.
In other words:
14 out of 100 women who have never been pregnant, have not had a vaginal birth, and use small or medium sized cap, but do not use the cervical cap exactly as directed will experience an accidental pregnancy during the first year they use this method.
29 out of 100 women who have had a vaginal birth or use a large size cap, but do not use the cervical cap exactly as directed, will experience an accidental pregnancy during the first year they use this method.
How do I insert the cervical cap?
Check out our section on how to insert the cervical cap.
Does the cervical cap protect against STIs?
If you use the cervical cap and are concerned about both pregnancy and STIs, doubling up with the cap and condoms could be a good option.
What if my cervical cap is starting to smell?
This can happen if you've left it in more than 48 hours.
Try this: Rinse it thoroughly and let it dry. If the odor sticks around, you may want to get checked for a condition called bacterial vaginosis (a condition that can cause that bad-smelling discharge).
Will I be able to feel the cervical cap inside of me?
Most people don’t feel the cervical cap inside of them if it’s inserted correctly.
What if the cervical cap is causing irritation?
The irritation could actually be from an allergy to spermicide.
Try this: If the irritation isn’t too bad, you might want to try another brand of spermicide.
I scratched my cervix when taking out my cervical cap. Is that going to keep happening?
That sounds horrible, but luckily, it shouldn’t happen very often.
What if I'm having trouble getting the cervical cap in or out?
If you’re new to the cervical cap, check out our “how to.” Practice a little more and do so when it’s not the heat of the moment. Hopefully you’ll soon find it easy to use.
How do I remove the cervical cap?
Check out our section on how to remove the cervical cap.
