ContraGel - Natural Vegan Contraceptive Gel - Large 60ml Tube

ContraGel is not FDA approved so should not be marketed or distributed in the USA

If you wish to buy ContraGel Green in Canada, please visit TriMedic.

ContraGel, Natural and Safe - Key Points:

ContraGel is available Over-The-Counter (OTC) in UK pharmacies.

If you are a pharmacist it can be ordered with PIP364-9134.

ContraGel is ideal for use in conjunction with the cervical cap, FemCap and other barrier contraceptives such as diaphragms and condoms. 

ContraGel is vegan and waterbased which means it is approved for use in conjuntion with French Letter vegan condoms and YES organic lubricants.

Remember, for the purpose of contraception you only need to use use barrier contraceptives during your Fertility Window, the 6-8 days per cycle when intercourse could lead to pregnancy. 

Click here to learn more about identifying your Fertility Window for contraception

Does ContraGel Work Like a Spermicide?

Medical descriptions of spermicides state that products must contain Nonoxynol-9, the active chemical component, in order to be considered a spermicide. ContraGel fortunately does not contain Nonoxynol-9, so it is not considered a spermicide in the traditional description.  It does, however, perform the same role as spermicide and gives results which equal or exceed the efficiency of tradional spermicide.

What Is Nonoxynol 9 Exactly?

According to Wikipedia (April 2010) "Nonoxynol-9, sometimes abbreviated as N-9, is an organic compound that is used as a surfactant. It is a member of the nonoxynol family of nonionic surfactants. N-9 and related compounds are ingredients in various cleaning and cosmetic products. It is widely-used in contraceptives for its spermicidal properties. However, its use is controversial because it may cause genital lesions."

The genital lesions mentioned happen from N-9's abrasive qualities (which incidentily make it ideal for cleaning agents).  The abrasions within the vagina can cause irritation and can also damage skin cells, which can increase the risk of transmitting diseases such as HIV. From 1996 to 2000, a UN-sponsored study carried out in several locations in Africa followed nearly 1000 sex workers who used Nonoxynol-9 gels or a placebo. The HIV infection rate among those using Nonoxynol-9 was about 50% higher than those who used the placebo; those using Nonoxynol-9 also had a higher incidence of vaginal lesions, which may have contributed to this increased risk.

Some cases of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) have been reported in women using Nonoxynol 9. TSS is an uncommon, but serious disease that can result in death.

ContraGel entered the market to offer women a safe alternative to the risks and side effects of Nonoxynol 9.

Does ContraGel Actually Kill Sperm?

No, not on contact, ContraGel does not actually kill sperm on contact because it doesn't need to. One of the properties of a spermicidal gel is that it's a gel, a sticky substance which sperm simply can not travel through. It's a barrier to capture and retain the sperm. A diaphragm or cervical cap can not form an absolute seal on their own so a gel substance is needed to complete the physical barrier. For this reason the chemical content of the barrier is not so important. Contragel however uses a base of Lactic Acid, yes just like natural lemons which originates from natural fruit trees. The pH value of lemon is very low and this in turn reduces the pH of the sperm, which in turn inhibits their activity and shortly afterwards kills them.

Does ContraGel Cause Skin Irritations?

Each person is unique and our bodies react differently to each other. There is no guarentee that every user won't experience an adverse reaction to ContraGel's natural ingredients just like there is no guarentee that nobody will ever have a reaction to peanuts. What medical studies do show us is that spermicides containing Nonoxynol 9 cause a high rate of reactions in users. If you are concerned for any reason before using ContraGel for the first time we recommend applying a small amount to the skin as a test to see if you have any type of adverse reaction. If you have a special skin condition discuss ContraGel with your dermatologyst before using it.

And remember, your partner's skin will come in contact with the gel so make sure you tell him you're using it incase he would like to test it on his skin first too.

Can I use ContraGel With My FemCap?

ContraGel is water soluble, which means it’s safe to use with natural latex rubber or polyurethane condoms as well as latex or silicon rubber diaphragms and cervical caps. Lots of our users use FemCap with ContraGel because it works together perfectly!

Why Are Spermicides Banned in Other Countries?

In some countries around the world, 'traditional' spermicides, those which contain Nonoxynol 9 (classed as a drug), are no longer distributed. This isn't because of them being banned per-se, it's more a fact of them simply not being licensed for medical prescription. This is typically due to a government policy aiming to promote forms of hormonal contraception which can be cheaper for the government in question and more profitable for pharmacutical companies.

Has ContraGel Been Medically Approved?

ContraGel is not classed as a 'drug' for licensing purposes but a Class IIa medical device. It is approved by the European Union as such with the CE0124 approval mark. This makes it available 'over the counter', without the need for a prescription.

Can I Get a Prescription for ContraGel?

ContraGel is not yet available on prescription in any country that we are aware of.  We understand that many insurance companies and HMO's will cover the cost if contraception is a provision of your policy.

Can I Use ContraGel By Itself?

Absolutely not! ContraGel is designed to be used along with a diaphragm or cervical cap. It can also be used as a lubricant with condoms to give an element of protection if the condom splits but it must never be used on it's own.

Who is the Manufacturer of ContraGel?

ContraGel was first manufactured by the Dutch Family Planning Association (NVSH) from 1972 until 2003 under the name Contracep Green. It has been bought back into production through consumer demand by DeltaMed GmbH, a German based ISO 13458 Certified manufacturer under the new brand name of ContraGel Green.

Could Live Sperm Enter My Women When I Remove My Diaphragm?

Diaphragm and cervical cap manufacturers usually suggest their product be coated in a spermicidal gel and also left in place for several hours after intercourse. Correct usage would leave the opening of the cervix with a coating of Contragel which is a viscous gel from which sperm can not escape. The scenario described would involve sperm entering the ectocervix after intercourse but this couldnt happen since there would be no force of ejaculation to push the sperm inside so any locomotion of sperm at that moment would have involved it coming into contact with the gel. The moment there is contact the sperm are imobilised and rapidly begin to die with the pH change induced from the gel so at the moment of removing the diaphragm the sperm would have been in imobilised the gel for several hours at the reduced pH.

How Did ContraGel Score on the Pearl Index?

There is no Pearl index for ContraGel because it isn't technically a contraceptive method. It is used with a barrier method such as condoms, diaphragms or cervical caps.  As with all barrier methods, studies consistantly show that the failiure rate is always influenced by incorrect usage by the user.  This happens so often that different reliability rates are published, one with perfect or correct usage and one for incorrect usage. This has more impact than the brand of spermicide chosen.

Should I use ContraGel Every Day of My Cycle?

ContraGel shouldn't be used whilst you are menstruating. However it should be remembered that intercourse only has the risk of pregnancy for about 6 days per cycle during your Fertility Window. A healthy egg is only fertilisable for 18-24 hours and sperm can't survive for more than 5 days inside of you so that span of 6 day (5 days before ovulation and the day of ovulation) are really the only time when barrier contraception needs to be used for pregnancy protection. Click here to learn more about identifying your Fertility Window for contraception

How Can I Buy ContraGel?

ContraGel can be bought from us here on this website or Over-The-Counter (OTC) in UK pharmacies. If you are a pharmacist it can be ordered with PIP364-9134.

How Can I Use ContraGel With Condoms?

There is no 'correct' way to use contraceptive gels with condoms in the sense that when you look at condom instructions or various spermicide instructions they never seem to specify it.

If a condom is used correctly, no spermicide or contraceptive gels would be needed but life isn't perfect and using it helps.

In general people use contraceptive gels like ContraGel with condoms quite excessively to take advantage of their mild lubricating effects. By using a gel in such a way the main contraceptive benefit is reducing the risk of 'contamination', mainly sperm and ejaculate ending up outside the condom when its being removed or possibly already being present as a result of foreplay and then being inserted into the vagina.

In the event of a condom splitting when full of ejaculate, spermicide on the shaft section might not be of too much use. You would have to think of the sperm at the tip of the condom reaching the cervix which could be just a few centimeters away. In that scenario having applied some contraceptive gel directly to the tip of the cervix with a finger would probably be the most useful thing, but remember, at that point your talking about relying upon just a gel to prevent pregnancy with no other physical barrier.

It's also worth noting that intercourse only carries the risk of pregnancy during your fertility window, about 6-8 days each cycle. For contraceptive purposes barrier contraception outside of that window isnt needed (although condoms do more than just prevent pregnancy). Fertility monitors can help out with that. We recommend taking a look here to understand that a bit more http://ethicalfamilyplanning.com/review-and-compare-contraceptive-monitors

Really every bit helps, you can reduce some risks by using the extra contraceptive gel with a condom but no method of contraception will ever offer 100% protection every time.

Download ContraGel Instructions In German, English, French, Dutch, Italian and Spanish.