Providing Spermicides

• Give as much spermicide as possible—even as much as a year's supply, if available.

1. Check the expiration date and avoid using spermicides past their expiration date.

2. Wash hands with mild soap and clean water, if possible.

3. Foam or cream: Shake cans of foam hard. Squeeze spermicide from the can or tube into a plastic applicator. Insert the applicator deep into the vagina, near the cervix, and push the plunger.

4. Tablets, suppositories, jellies: Insert the spermicide deep into the vagina, near the cervix, with an applicator or with fingers.
Film: Fold film in half and insert with fingers that are dry (or else the film will stick to the fingers and not the cervix).

• Foam or cream: Any time less than one hour before sex.
• Tablets, suppositories, jellies, film: Between 10 minutes and one hour before sex, depending on type.

• Insert additional spermicide before each act of vaginal sex.

• Douching is not recommended because it will wash away the spermicide and also increase the risk of sexually transmitted infections.
• If you must douche, wait for at least 6 hours after sex before doing so.