Clinical evaluation of C-Film, a vaginal contraceptive.

ABSTRACT

PIP C-film, a 5 X 5 cm piece of water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol film, containing the spermicide nonylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol, was used as the sole contraceptive method by 237 women for 1866 months. 14 pregnancies occurred for a pregnancy rate of 9/100 woman-years. However, 11 of the women failed to use the method as instructed for a theoretical method failure rate of about 2/100 woman years. 156 women observed for 12 months or longer were analyzed by the life-table method. They showed an overall pregnancy rate of 6.5% and a continuation rate of 68.6%. Among the reasons for stopping were difficulty in applying the film properly, complaints about the sharp edges (especially if a package had been opened for a few weeks and air had come in contact with individual films,) and problems with inserting the interleaved silver foil as well as the film. Male insertion was tried but discontinued after reports of higher failure rates. C-film should not be offered as an alternative to oral contraception or IUDs but will increase the reliability of an IUD or condom and may be used alone to postpone pregnancy, for women approaching menopause, and where absolute protection against pregnancy is not required.^ieng