Barrier methods of birth control physically block sperm from reaching the uterus during sexual activity. There are many types to choose from. Weigh up the pros and cons of each before deciding which is right for you.
Barrier methods are about more than just condoms.
A barrier method is any type of birth control that puts a barrier between the penis and vagina to block sperm from reaching an egg. No sperm-to-egg contact means no pregnancy.
Some methods also act as barriers between skin and fluids to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Read on to learn about your options, how effective they are, and how to use them.
Barrier methods refer to any contraceptive or prop that blocks what you want to block from where you want to block it during sexual activity. Their main function is to prevent pregnancy by physically blocking sperm from the uterus during penis-in-vagina (P-in-V) sex.
Some methods also block contact with another person’s skin and fluids during other types of sex to prevent STIs.
External condoms are thin pouches that are worn over the penis during intercourse. They’re designed to catch fluid (precum and semen) that comes out of the penis, so it doesn’t make its way into the vagina.
After use, you can carefully pull it off and throw it in the trash.
External condoms come in latex and non-latex options, like plastic (polyurethane, nitrile, and polyisoprene) and lambskin. These options are useful for those with a latex allergy.
With typical use, external condoms are
87% effective at preventing pregnancy.
Latex and plastic condoms can also protect against STIs. You can pick them up for free at most clinics or buy them online or in stores.
Also called the female condom, internal condoms are polyurethane pouches that are worn inside the vagina.
With typical use, they’re
You can buy them online or in stores without a prescription, and you can occasionally get them for free at clinics.
A cervical cap is a reusable rubber cap that you insert into the vagina to prevent sperm from getting inside the uterus.
You need to use it with spermicide for maximum effectiveness, which is 71% to 88% effective with typical use. It also needs to stay in the vagina for at least 6 hours after sex to prevent pregnancy.
Cervical caps may be reusable for up to a year with proper care. You can get them at a pharmacy or health center with a prescription.
Like a cervical cap, a diaphragm is a reusable form of birth control that’s worn inside the vagina to keep sperm out of the uterus and prevent pregnancy. You need to use it with spermicide for the best protection, which is 71% to 88% effective with typical use.
You need a prescription from a healthcare professional to get one from a pharmacy or health center.
Like the cap, a diaphragm also needs to be worn for at least 6 hours after sex.
The contraceptive sponge is a small, round piece of sponge that contains spermicide and is inserted into the vagina.
It works by creating a barrier between the cervix and sperm. The spermicide slows down sperm.
Sponges are
73% to 86% effective with typical use. You can buy sponges over the counter (OTC) online or in the family planning aisle.
Chemical barrier methods are spermicides, which come in several forms and are used inside the vagina to stop sperm before it can make its way into the uterus.
Your options are:
- foam
- cream
- gel
- film
- suppository
- tablet
How you insert them depends on the type of spermicide you choose. Suppositories, tablets, and film can be inserted into the vagina using your fingers. Cream, gel, and foam are inserted using an applicator that you fill.
Most types are inserted using a special applicator or squeezed onto a cervical cap or diaphragm before insertion.
On their own, spermicides are
You can buy spermicides OTC, online, and in stores where you buy condoms.
If you aren’t sure whether barrier methods are the way to go over other types of birth control, here are the pros and cons to help you decide.
The pros:
- You can use them as needed — unlike, say, an IUD that’s in for the long haul.
- Most barriers are available without a prescription.
- Those that require a prescription (cap and diaphragm) are reusable.
- You can often get condoms and spermicides for free at a clinic.
- Barriers are nonhormonal, so they are useful if you can’t use hormonal birth control.
- They’re safe to use while breastfeeding.
- They don’t impact pre-existing medical conditions, like high blood pressure.
- They’re less expensive than hormonal birth control methods.
- If you have sex, condoms offer the best protection against STIs during P-in-V sex, anal sex, and oral sex.
The cons:
- You have to remember to use them every time you have sex.
- Spermicides can be messy.
- Some people feel like condoms interfere with sensation and ruin the mood.
- Some people are allergic to spermicides, which rules out diaphragms, cervical caps, and certain condoms.
- They’re effective but not as effective as non-barrier methods.
As long as you remember to have them on hand — and use them! — every time you plan to have sex, barrier methods are effective and affordable birth control.
If you aren’t sure if they are right for you, you don’t need to figure it out on your own. A healthcare professional can help you work out your options.
Adrienne Santos-Longhurst is a Canada-based freelance writer and author who has written extensively on all things health and lifestyle for more than a decade. When she’s not holed-up in her writing shed researching an article or off interviewing health professionals, she can be found frolicking around her beach town with husband and dogs in tow or splashing about the lake trying to master the stand-up paddle board.