1. How does the FemCap work?
It prevents sperm from entering the cervix. The FemCap should be used with a small amount of ContraGel to reinforce the mechanical barrier of the FemCap - About ≤ teaspoon is plenty.

2. What are the side effects of the FemCap?
There are no known local or systemic side effects.

3. Is it easy to use?
Yes, it is easy to use. The average woman can learn how to insert and remove the FemCap on her own in a few minutes and master its use in a few days.

4. What is the effectiveness rate of the FemCap?
Effectiveness depends on the motivation of the user and whether she uses the FemCap consistently
and properly every time she has sex. There is a wide range of effectiveness among users. It is estimated that the FemCap failure rate is estimated to be 7.6 in 100 women in preventing pregnancy if
used PERFECTLY.

5. How is the FemCap cleaned between uses?
How often should it be replaced? The FemCap should be washed thoroughly with antibacterial hand soap and rinsed with tap water, then dried and stored in its container. It is recommended the FemCap be replaced every year or sooner if it shows any signs of deterioration.

The seven requirements for perfect use are:

1. The ideal Woman should be motivated to use the FemCap and want to avoid the use of hormones.
2. Women should watch the instructional video very carefully before using the FemCap.
3. A back-up contraceptive method should be used during the learning phase; (few days) e.g. you may use the condom or finish your pack of birth control pills while learning how to master the use of the FemCap.
4. The FemCap must be inserted before any sexual arousal.
5. A small amount (3/4 of teaspoon) of gel should be applied to the FemCap and its position should be checked before each use.
6. The FemCap must be left in place at least six hours after the last act of intercourse.
7. Emergency contraception should be employed if the woman did not use the FemCap at all or used it incorrectly. In the worst-case scenario, the FemCap (first-generation, obsolete now and not approved by the FDA) was 86.5% successful in preventing pregnancy in the six-month pivitol clinical trials, that involved 800 women. All women who volunteered and participated in the clinical trials were novices and selected at random to cover the entire socioeconomic spectrum. Women in these clinical trials were prohibited from using any back-up method during the learning phase, and were not even allowed to watch the instructional videotape. Women in these trials were also prohibited from using emergency contraception even if they admitted to having forgotten to use the FemCap.