Barrier contraceptives, spermicides, and periodic abstinence

Although barrier contraceptives were among the first methods of preventing unwanted pregnancy ever described for human use, with the advent of the non-coitally related oral contraceptives and intrauterine devices, they gradually fell into relative disuse. However, for a variety of reasons, this is no longer the case. There is a renewed interest in these techniques both as a major form of birth control and also as our best protection against the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, many of which are now occurring in epidemic form. This latter reason has stimulated fresh approaches to both physical barriers and spermicidal agents. In addition, attempts have also been made to assess the true effectiveness of periodic abstinence and ways in which to make its use more accurate and acceptable.