'Male and female condoms -
and free leaflets
about how to use them'
What are barrier methods?
As the name barrier method suggests, these provide a physical
barrier that prevents the sperm from being able to reach the egg
when it is released in the woman's body (usually once a month).
They also provide some protection against sexual
infections.
The most commonly used barrier method is the male condom (but
female condoms are also available) and you can also get diaphragms
and caps, which are inserted into the vagina before intercourse.
Where can I get them?
'Examples of diaphragms and caps'
You can buy condoms in many places, as well as getting them from
family planning clinics, and this makes them popular with people
who feel a bit 'shy' about going to a clinic. We hope, however,
that, having got to know about services offered a bit through
this website, you will feel happy to make a trip down to the Cambridge Family Planning Service
so you can talk to us about all your options.
Diaphragms and caps have to be the right size for the individual
woman, so they have to be fitted at a clinic or general practice
surgery.
Should I use them on their own?
Barrier methods are very important as a way of reducing infections,
however, for many couples, they do not turn out to be the best
method to prevent a pregnancy.
Some people can have problems using barrier methods and many
people find that it is difficult, in the 'heat of the moment',
to remember to put on a condom or put in a diaphragm. Even when
they are used very carefully and every time that a couple have
sex, they do still have failure rates that are generally higher
than the other methods available. For this reason, many couples
choose to use condoms for safer sex and also use one of the other
methods of contraception. This gives them the best possible chance
of avoiding an unintended pregnancy. This 'belt and braces' approach
is often called Double Dutch (because it was first encouraged
in Holland).
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