Thinking about going hormone-free in the bedroom? Perhaps you’re considering switching to a diaphragm as your preferred contraceptive method. That’s fantastic news! However, you can’t simply purchase one from the store. You genuinely need to visit a healthcare professional first. Here’s why.
Diaphragms are held in place by the walls of the vaginal canal, and each woman’s anatomy is unique. A correctly sized diaphragm should securely cover the cervix without moving during sex. It should also be comfortable.
I’m An Average Size Woman, An Average Size Diaphragm Would Work?
The answer is not necessarily. A petite woman might have a larger vaginal tract than a woman twice her size or weight. And after childbirth, changes in the body can occur again.
Even after gaining or losing a few kilos, there’s a chance that enough body fat in the lower abdomen, buttocks, and inner thigh area has shifted, potentially increasing or decreasing the pressure on the outer walls of the vagina. This shift of just a few millimeters can alter the optimal size of the diaphragm.
How Do I Find Out What Size I Need?
A trained doctor, gynecologist, midwife, or healthcare practitioner will measure you for size. They’ll use a fitting kit with sample-sized diaphragms to find the most effective and secure choice for you. It’s essentially a trial-and-error process. There’s no way to calculate your exact diaphragm size, so they’ll insert one, check if it fits, and then move to the next size up or down accordingly until they find the perfect fit. It’s quite similar to a visit to an optician. It may not sound like cutting-edge medicine, but it’s effective.
After your “fitting session,” they’ll provide you with the correct diaphragm size.
How Is A Diaphragm Inserted?
The round diaphragm is folded into a cylindrical shape and inserted into the vaginal canal. It naturally unfolds inside the canal and is then pushed into place to cover the cervix. While the process may seem daunting, with practice, most women find it simple and easy.
During your diaphragm fitting session, the healthcare professional will guide you on the correct insertion and removal of the diaphragm.
What If I Already Have a Diaphragm?
This is quite common, especially with the Caya single-size diaphragm. Women who have seen a web page with a single-size description and assumed it’s one-size-fits-all often receive it and realize it’s only suitable for about 80% of women. Since contraception is a high-stakes decision, they seek professional advice.
Usually, it works out well for the 80% who find the Caya suitable. They can consult a professional about their change in contraceptive method, have a quick check for any medical reasons why they shouldn’t use a diaphragm, and receive hands-on coaching, especially on correctly inserting and removing the device.
I Can’t Find A Healthcare Professional For A Fitting, What Are My Options?
If you can’t find a healthcare professional for a fitting, your regular GP, midwife, or gynecologist should be able to discuss any change in contraceptive method and confirm if there are any medical reasons why you shouldn’t use a diaphragm. However, they may not be trained or equipped to assess your size.
More healthcare professionals are taking courses to train in diaphragm fitting, but it can still be challenging to connect with someone. On this website, we plan to build a list of trained professionals willing to book you in for a fitting session. Alternatively, there’s FemCap, an interesting option.
Here’s how it works: After puberty, a woman’s cervix size corresponds to a 22mm FemCap. This size remains constant unless she becomes pregnant. Two weeks after conception, the cervix undergoes irreversible dilation. This is crucial to understand because even if a woman miscarries early in pregnancy and is unaware of her conception, her cervix size has changed, necessitating a 26mm FemCap. Imagine a deflated balloon; it never shrinks back to its original size.
Vaginal delivery further alters the cervix’s size, requiring a 30mm FemCap for those who have had a vaginal delivery. In contrast, a C-section delivery doesn’t stretch the cervix as much as a vaginal delivery, so a 26mm FemCap would still be suitable.
This simple sizing system based on your obstetric history makes it easy to self-size cervical caps. However, it’s essential to consult a healthcare professional to determine if diaphragms or cervical caps are the right choice for you.
For two decades David has been the owner and director of several marketing and distribution companies. During this time he has learned the indisputable benefits of looking after customers, colleagues, workers, suppliers and the local community, treating them all as respected stakeholders in a common project. Recently he consolidated his personal beliefs and business ethics by founding and developing several ethical companies.
