Conference turris::womannotes-v3

    There is no 100% effective birth control (besides abstinence and
    sterilization) you can get pregnant even if you followed the directions
    exactly. Get one of those home pregnancy test kits, though I'm not sure
    3 days late is long enough to tell. liesl

    I don't like my diaphragm, and don't like relying on it. In my family,
    the uterus is tilted wrong and diaphragms are hard to fit, and hard to
    wear, although my mom loved hers. Mine tends to press against my
    urethral sphincters and causes a lot of pain. I think it shifts.
    
    A diaphragm CAN be knocked out of place during vigorous intercourse.
    The best way to tell is when removing it, see if it still feels like
    suction against the cervix (that inner canal). 
    
    For now, sit back, be patient, and try not to think about it. 5 days
    won't make much difference in the decision making process unless you
    know where to get abortifacts.
    
    Megahugs,
    
    from one who's sweated before.

    Ren
    
    Your problem may not be you but your doctor. The doctor I went
    to when I first got married had originally worked with Margaret
    Sanger, and she was pushing or past retirement age. She said that
    most younger doctors esp men, simply don't know how to fit a 
    diapragm properly. If it hurst or shifts you have the wrong size.
    (at least from what 'Lucy' told me.
    
    Bonnie

    i have one friend who, despite many years of correct usage, became
    pregnant with a diaphragm.
    
    keep in mind that the diaphragm works by forcing sperm to go through
    spermicide to reach the uterus+ovum; a pin-hole is not critical if
    you've got a fresh puddle spermicide at your cervix, but the most
    pin-hole-free and well-fit diaphragm is no good without lots of fresh
    spermicide.

    In addition, if you gain or lose weight, you may need to be re-fitted
    with a slightly different size....even if it's only 10 pounds...
    
    -Jody

    
    But even if you do everything right, as one of the first respondants
    said, it's not 100% effective.  It's effectiveness is high, but not
    100%.  Try to stay calm, think about what you will do if you are, and 
    gather whomever you can around you for support.  I know how you feel,
    it's nerve wracking.
    
    CQ
    
    

    
    
    

>  (I've only had
>2 cycles following my pregnancy, though, so maybe, maybe, I'm not
>entirely regular yet?).
    
    This is a definate possibility. I was not regular until 4 months after
    each pregnancy.
    
    
    Kate

    Home pregnancy tests are available that can be used the day your period
    is due.  
    
    Suzanne

    
    Definitely take a home pregnancy test.  They are fairly accurate.
    
    Also, I am not sure if the blood tests are accurate 3 days late,
    but it certainly wouldn't hurt to give a gyn a call and find out.
    It will save you some worry.  
    
    
    Hang in there -- you have much support.
    
    One who's been there,
    Michele

    Sorry to say a diaphragm can fail.  Even if you use it correctly every
    time.
    
    You may be late because you are not back on a regular schedule yet. 
    Sometimes heat and or stress can cause a shift in schedule.
    
    You need facts and you maybe need to start thinking "what if."
    Not fun (I know from experience) but even if it is a false alarm it may
    be good to start thinking of how you will cope if you are indeed
    pregnant. 
    
    I think I can safely say that however things go and however you deal
    with it, you have a supportive community here. 
    
       Take care,
                                                               
         Margaret

Reply to me from the base noter...

___________________________________________________________


Thanks for putting the note in, though fortunately it turned out
that I was just late (5 days).  I guess my cycle hasn't returned
to normal yet!  Whew!

    To get as much protection as possible, use a condom with the diaphragm. 
    And follow the instructions to the letter--leave the diaphragm in for
    the specified time, use more spermicide if having intercourse again
    within that time, etc.  Why gamble on 80-something percent
    effectiveness when you can get ninety-something?
    
    Nancy aka Fertile_Myrtle 

    Both my sisters had their third children on the diaphragm.
    I don't believe that their husbands used condoms though.
    I think the combination is the only way of being truly safe.
    As it turned out, my sisters were very happy with their children
    and ended up being glad of the failures!
    
    Eileen
    

     	   
    	In 10 years, my wife got pregnant 3 times while we were using the 
    	diaphram. We decided not to "plan" for children but to accept the
    	pregnancies when they occured. 3 pregnancies in 10 years
    	considering the number of times we made love (blush) is pretty
    	good, however, we leared how to use the diphram correctly, got it
    	refitted...... In my experience, too many people don't use birth
    	control methods correctly.
    
    	We had two children and both had to be C-sections. Since we had one
    	of each gender, my wife decided to have her tubes tied while they
    	were in there.
    
    	Guy

    If they are available in your area (try calling planned parenthood) you
    may want to try a cervical cap instead.  They are more comfortable, and
    don't have the depressing tendency to shift, or worse, fall out when
    you stand up.
    
    I am another of the tilted uterus group, and after Carrie (a diaphram
    baby) never could seem to get the right fit.  The cap has bee a godsend
    for me for the last three years.  The problem is finding a trained
    practictioner to fit one, but usually the local feminist clinic, or
    Planned Parenthood will have a list of who can fit in the area.  
    
    Meg  

    Not so--my cervical cap came loose several times.  And I couldn't feel
    it, unless of course it almost popped out when I was peeing!  One of 
    those times resulted in pregnancy.  We did get some laughs out of it, 
    though.  The darned thing would go deeper than my short fingers could 
    reach, so Danny would have to fish for it. ;-)  They may be harder than
    the diaphragm to fit to individual anatomies because there aren't as many
    sizes.  It was more convenient than the diaphragm since I could leave 
    it in longer.   Would use it again but only with a condom.
    
    Nancy

    I've had a diaphragm for 12 years with no problems. Like other replies,
    I have a tilted uterus, and the first few years experienced a lot of
    discomfort. Then I got fitted for a coil spring (rather than the
    standard All-FLEX that is typically prescribed) and have had no
    problems or discomfort at all.
    
    Whereas the All-FLEX is quite rigid a ring, the coil spring is "softer"
    (for lack of a better word).
    
    To the basenoter, you didn't mention it, but I assume you were refitted
    after the birth of your child? That's real important, as is knowing how
    to use it correctly, like someone else mentioned.