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Spermicide: Side Effects & Benefits

Side Effects

The Positive

There are actually lots of things about spermicide that may be good for your body as well as your sex life.

  • Easy to use and convenient to get a hold of
  • Can be inserted as foreplay (sexy!)
  • Doesn’t affect your hormones
  • No prescription necessary
  • Can be used while breastfeeding

The Negative

It's normal to worry about negative side effects, but for many people, they're not a problem. Most people adjust to using spermicide pretty quickly.

  • Can be kinda messy and/or leak out of your vagina
  • Might irritate your vagina or your partner’s penis
  • Some people are allergic to spermicide
  • You may not like the taste
  • All spermicides sold in the U.S. contain Nonoxynol-9, which can cause irritation (especially if you use it more than once a day). That can lead to an increased risk of HIV and STI transmission
  • Hard to remember to use if you're drunk

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Our partner health centers are focused on you. They provide access to all methods of birth control and free or low-cost birth control to those who need it.