BCP/VCF effectiveness

[cjb1981]

I was curious if birth control pills coupled with vaginal contraceptive film are as effective as birth control pills coupled with condoms. Thanks, and I'm sure that there have been post about this, but no one seems to ever give a relevant title, which makes the search function meaningless. Thanks again.

[sera300]

It's under birth control failure rates in "new to sex"...looks like a 5% delta
Here are the stats:

If 100 women have regular sex for a year, the number who become pregnant will be:

No protection - 85

Withdrawal - 40

Condoms alone - 10

Spermicide alone - 15

Hormone (pill, etc) - 3

Condoms plus spermicide in the vagina - 3

IUD - 4

This all assumes protection, properly used, every time. The spermicide on the condom should be considered lube. There is not enough to really protect against pregnancy. There should be 150 mg's of spermicide in the vagina and the normal dose (applicator, sheet, tablet, suppository) of whatever you are using will provide this.

[cjb1981]

I do know the individual stats for condoms, and bcpills. The vcf is what has me wondering, does it have the same effective rate as the specicide sighted in the stats above? Also, I'm talking about uses bcpills in unison with either condoms or the vaginal contraceptive film. I'm wondering because I was thinking about asking my girlfriend if we could have sex without condoms. She is on birth control pills, and wants to use 2 forms of birth control, as of so far condoms have been the second. STD's aren't a possibility, we've both been tested. I know that spermicides have a lower effective rate then condoms, but when used with another form of bc, aren't they all about 99.9%?

[sera300]

Originally Posted by cjb1981

I do know the individual stats for condoms, and bcpills. The vcf is what has me wondering, does it have the same effective rate as the specicide sighted in the stats above? Also, I'm talking about uses bcpills in unison with either condoms or the vaginal contraceptive film. I'm wondering because I was thinking about asking my girlfriend if we could have sex without condoms. She is on birth control pills, and wants to use 2 forms of birth control, as of so far condoms have been the second. STD's aren't a possibility, we've both been tested. I know that spermicides have a lower effective rate then condoms, but when used with another form of bc, aren't they all about 99.9%?

Okay, many women do not use another form when taking the pill unless they need to due to a medication interaction or missed pills. By adding another contraceptive, assuming the pill is taking properly, I would say you are the closest to 100% short of abstinence. If STD's have been ruled out, I would use the VCF. I find they are less messy yet contain the proper amounts of spermicide. I am not a big fan of condom use for myself due to allergies; however, there are times they have to be used. I have used VCF alone during the time I was married without any issue & I do know I was fertile. A unplanned preg. was okay but preferred to wait a bit longer. Combining either of the two with the pill, you should be fine.