What are spermicides and how are they used?
Spermicides are chemical substances that kill sperm to protect against pregnancy.
They come in many different forms including gels, foams, films, suppositories
and lubricants. Spermicides are inserted into the vagina before intercourse.
Spermicides should never be used for anal sex because they can irritate the
lining of the anus.
Spermicides are most effective at preventing a pregnancy when they are used
with another method of birth control such as a male condom, a female condom,
a diaphragm or a cervical cap. Many brands of condoms also contain spermicides
– it will say this on the package. There are many different types of spermicidal
products available at most drug stores in Canada
and they do not require a prescription from a doctor.
Do spermicides protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?
Spermicides do not provide reliable protection from many STIs. In fact, it’s
been found that using spermicides that contain nonoxynol-9 may increase the
risk of HIV and STI transmission.
What is nonoxynol-9?
Nonoxynol-9 (N-9) is a common chemical ingredient in spermicides. Researchers
have found that N-9 may increase the risk of HIV and STI transmission because
it can cause skin irritations, which may increase the risk of infection. You
should avoid using a spermicide if you have any irritated areas.
Because of these findings, N-9 is not recommended as an effective way to prevent
HIV. The best STI and HIV protection is a lubricated latex condom without N-9.
However, a condom with N-9 is better than no condom at all. The protection you
can get from a condom outweighs the risk of using the N-9.
Are spermicides and microbicides the same thing?
No. Spermicides are chemicals that kill sperm to protect against pregnancy.
Microbicides are chemicals that kill viruses and bacteria to help protect against
HIV and other STIs. Although there is research being done, right now there are
no effective microbicides on the market and it’s not clear when that might happen.
Nonoxynol-9, a common ingredient in spermicides, is not an effective microbicide.
For more information on microbicides, see the FAQ, "What
are microbicides?"
Additional resources
Alliance for Microbicide Development
Nonoxynol-9 and the risk of HIV transmission – Public Health Agency
of Canada
Spermicides – Sunnybrook
and Women's College Health Sciences Centre
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