Barrier Contraception

Barrier contraceptives are one of the oldest forms of contraception which are still used today.  They have developed significantly over the years and continue to be improved and advanced upon.

The widespread use of latex in the 1950's was a huge leap forward in barrier contraception.  Condoms became widely available all over the world and women were able to take control of their own contraception using diaphragms.

After a while, pharmaceutical companies realised that monthly pills would bring in more revenue than diaphragms, which only have to be purchased once a year.  This reaslisation coupled with more and more people recognizing latex allergies, allergies related to chemical spermicides and Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) brought about the rise in hormonal contraception.  As a result, barrier contraception became less popular and experienced a steady decline.

Diaphragms and Cervical caps were always championed by feminist groups as being a female controled form of contraception, which does not require male discipline in order to be successful.  Barrier contraceptives have also been widely promoted in the developing world due to their cheap price, minimal instructions for correct use and their long shelf life.

Barrier contraceptives have been making a come back in recent years with the use of condoms being promoted to combat HIV and AIDS and also as more women turn their back on the pill and look for non-hormanal alternatives. With the introduction of natural alternatives to spermicide such as Contragel and the replacement of latex with silicone, barrier contraceptives are becoming popular once again.

Barrier methods of contraception only need to be used during your fertility window, those 6-8 days per cycle when intercourse could lead to pregnancy. For the rest of your cycle, no contraception is needed to prevent pregnancy.  Have a look at our articles on Fertility Awareness, the Sypto-Thermal method of contraception and Contraceptive Monitors like Cyclotest to learn more about natural contraception and fertility.