It is usually wise for the sexually active people to think of a family planning method. Unwanted pregnancies can be disastrous in a big way. Luckily birth control methods, are available in variety. There are few cases where the family planning fails but if used with extra care they are safe and effective contraception. There are some contraceptives which use barrier method to prevent contraception. One of such contraceptives is cervical cap which is mostly popular in North America since it has less side effects and still easy to use. Cervical cap is among the recently medically approved family planning methods since it is effective in preventing pregnancies in women. What is a cervical cap? It is a barrier form of preventing the sperm from entering the womb and fertilizing the female's egg. It uses the same concept with the diaphragm only that the cervical cap is much more smaller and fits in more tightly within the cervix.

The cervical cap is made of silicone rubber and the most available in the market is known as FemCap which has a dome that is made in such a way that it covers the cervix walls. It has a brim that holds the cap tightly in place and also a groove meant to hold the sperms. The cervical cap works in such a way that it blocks the cervix which is the entrance to the womb. The vaginal muscles helps in holding the cap in place in such a way that it does not become dislodged during sexual intercourse. The cap consist of a spermicide which destroys any sperm that come into contact with the cervical cap. If you choose a cervical cap to be your type of birth control method, you can easily get from your health care provider. Ensure that the cap does not create vaginal discomfort. It should fit snugly and most comfortably within your vagina. There are various sizes according to obstetrical history. They are designed in a various sizes according to whether the woman has ever been pregnant or whether the delivery was vaginal or caesarian.

The use of cervical cap is very easy. It should be inserted before sexual intercourse. Before you insert it, ensure that little amount of spermicide is applied to both the brim and the bowl of the cervical cap. To protect against pregnancy you also need to apply little spermicide to the groove of the cap. To insert it well in place, pinch the cap to fold it into two halves ensuring that the bowl faces upwards. Now you should be ready to push it in your vagina and push it further towards the rectal wall. You should push it until you are sure it covers the whole cervix. A point to note is that, the cervical cap can remain placed the body for not more than 48 hours. Do not remove the cap immediately after intercourse. It should remain intact for at least a period of eight hours.

To remove the cervical cap, you should first release the suction that actually holds the cap to the vaginal walls. This is done by using a finger to push the dome of the cap gently. Pull out the device by the strap of the cap. After removal clean the cap using warm water and mild antiseptic soap. You can pat it dry with a towel, or just leave it to be dried by the air. Keep it in its safety case. Do not think of using baby powder or any oil-based lubricant as this can dangerously damage the silicon material used to make the cap.