Expert: Lyndsay Mercier - 7/7/2008

Question
Hi there!

I've been on the pill for 4 years now but my partner has never climaxed in me
without a condom.  We usually don't use a condom, but we'll use the
withdrawal method if that's the case.

We've been wanting to have him climax in me but we're both too paranoid of
pregnancy!  So I recently just bought a foam spermicide with nonoxynol-9 on
it (12%) and we're both contemplating on using it.  I was wondering if you
have any information on how effective this combination is?  How about
compared to what we're doing now?  Do you have any statistics?

Thanks!

Answer
Marie,

Sure! First of all, its never a bad idea to use more than one method of birth control. But, as long as you are in a monogomous, sti-free relationship, then even if he ejaculates inside of you (even without the spermicide) there is still less than a 1% chance of you getting pregnant since you are taking birth control. As long as you always take your pill on time and never miss any, then you really don't have anything to worry about. Many monogomous couples don't use condoms and only rely on hormonal birth control. Your chances of getting pregnant are even less than if you just used condoms (and no hormonal birth control)!

But, I'm glad that you are being extra careful anyway, and I'm also glad that you two are communicating about birth control. To answer your question, using birth control alone and no condoms (and no withdrawal method either) leaves you at a less than 1 percent chance of getting pregnant. If you also use spermicide, well then your chances are even less than "less than one percent"! So go ahead and use the spermicide and have a great time trying something new and intimate with your partner.

If you ever find that the spermicide application interrupts "the mood" then also know that it is totally safe to go without it, as long as you both are free of sexually transmitted infections and are in a monogomous relationship, AND that you are always perfect about taking your pills.

Have fun,

Lyndsay