Experiences with a tampon-spermicide device

A tampon applicator is described in which a spermicidal solution is stored in the plunger and released into a disposable tampon just prior to insertion of the tampon. The experiences of 26 volunteers who used the device at the time of coitus suggest that the method is both acceptable and feasible, although four of the ten subjects attempting tampon removal by themselves experienced some difficulty. Postcoital studies of the cervical mucus near the time of ovulation were conducted on 16 subjects and no motile spermatozoa were found. This suggests a high degree of theoretical effectiveness.