DEVELOPMENT OF A COORDINATED CERVICAL CAP SYSTEM

WE PLAN TO DEVELOP AN EFFECTIVE CUSTOM-MOLDED CONTRACEPTIVE CERVICAL CAP FOR INTERMENSTRUAL USE. IT WOULD AIM TO OFFER A NEW FEMALE BARRIER METHOD OF CONTRACEPTION WITH A LOWER PREGNANCY RATE, A LONGER PERIOD OF CONTINUOUS USE, BETTER PROTECITON AGAINST SOME SEXUALLY TRANSMITTABLE INFECTIONS, AND LESS NEED FOR USER COMPLIANCE THAN THOSE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE. ALTHOUGH THE ONLY PREVIOUS CUSTOM-FITTED CAP, "CONTRACAP", ENCOUNTERED EXCESSIVE DISLODGEMENTS AND PREGNANCIES, IT PROVED BEYOND A DOUBT THAT CUSTOM-FITTED CAPS CAN BE WORN FOR MONTHS WITHOUT ADVERSE EFFECTS. WHILE PRELIMINARY RESULTS SUGGEST THAT A CUSTOM-MOLDED CERVICAL CAP MIGHT PROVIDE A MEANS OF LONG-TERM WEAR WITHOUT DISLODGEMENT, FURTHER REFINEMENT OF PROCEDURES IS NEEDED. IN ORDER TO DEVELOP AND EFFECTIVE CUSTOM-MOLDED CONTRACEPTIVE CERVICAL CAP FOR INTERMENSTRUAL USE, WE WILL PURSUE THE FOLLOWING THREE AIMS: (1) TO EXPLOER, IMPROVE, AND SIMPLIFY METHODS OF TAKING CERVICAL IMPRESSIONS IN AN EFFORT TO DEVELOP A CUSTOM-MOLDED CAP, (2) TO RESEARCH, TEST, AND DEVELOP SPECIFIC CHANGES IN CAP MATERIALS AND DESIGN AIMED AT IMPROVING RETENTION AND EFFICACY, AND (3) TO TEST CAPS FOR SAFETY, STABILITY, AND ACCEPTABILITY, BUT NOT FOR CONTRACEPTION.