Spermicide
vs
Vaginal pH Modulator
A side-by-side comparison of two birth control methods — efficacy, cost, how they work, and who shouldn't use them.
Side-by-side comparison
| Method |  SpermicideA chemical gel, foam, or film inserted into the vagina before sex to disable sperm, available over the counter. |  Vaginal pH ModulatorA prescription gel used before sex that keeps vaginal pH acidic to disable sperm. |
|---|---|---|
| Efficacy | 79% typical use Least effective: under 90 out of 100 people successfully prevent pregnancy per year. | 86.3% typical use Least effective: under 90 out of 100 people successfully prevent pregnancy per year. |
| Cost | $1–$3 /per unit Insurance: Varies | $0–$400 /per package Insurance: Usually |
| Duration | Single use (effective for 1 hour; duration varies by formulation, check product label) | Single use (effective for 1 hour) |
| Reversibility | Reversible | Reversible |
| STI Protection | No | No |
| How it works | A chemical (usually nonoxynol-9) immobilizes or kills sperm on contact. Inserted into the vagina before sex. | A gel containing lactic acid, citric acid, and potassium bitartrate maintains an acidic vaginal pH that disables sperm and reduces their motility. It also acts as a physical barrier to sperm movement. |
| Prescription | OTC Over-the-counter | Required Prescription required |
| Available Products | 2 products | 1 product |
| Side effects |
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| Who shouldn't use this |
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