Lea's Shieild

What It Is

The Lea's Shield is cup-shaped and made from silicon rubber. It fits over your cervic (the opening of the uterus) and helps stop sperm from meeting the egg. You should be able to walk around with the shield in place and not feel it. It should not bother you or your partner during sex.

The Lea's Shield is used with contraceptive cream or jelly. It comes in on size and must be given to you by a clinician or doctor, who will make sure it fits you well.

The Lea's Shield does not protect against HIV or STDs. If you are having sex with someone who might give you an STD, use a condom.

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Effectiveness

Perfect user: A person that uses their method of pregnancy prevention correctly all of the time.

Typical user: A person who does not use their method of pregnancy prevention correctly.

With perfect use, the Lea's Shield is 94% effective.

This means that if 100 women use the Lea's Shield exactly the right way every time they have sex, 6 women out of the group may get pregnant in 1 year.

With typical use, the Lea's Shield is 84% effective.

For women who don't use the Lea's Shield the right way every time they have sex, 16 women out of 100 may get pregnant in 1 year.

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Advantages

• The Lea's Shield causes few health problems.
• The Lea's Shield works very well to prevent pregnancy.
• The Lea's Shield is comfortable and you should not feel it when you are using it.
• The Lea's Shield can be inserted into the vagina up to 6 hours before sex.
• You only need to use the Lea's Shield when you have sex.
• Most men will not feel the Lea's Shield when you sex.

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Possible Side Effects

• Allergy to the contraceptive cream or jelly.
• Vaginal infection. This can happen if the Lea's Shield is left in too long or is not cleaned and dried well enough.
• Toxic Shock Syndrome (see below, Possible Warning Signs)

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Possible Warning Signs

Toxic Shock Syndrome can be a serious health problem that comes from a bacteria that grows in the Lea's Shield if it is kept in place for more than 24 hours. This is why it is important to remember to remove it within 24 horuse.

Rarely does a woman get TSS if she wears the Lea's Shield for less than 8 hours, but it is possible. If you ever experience the warning signs of TSS listed below, take out the Lea's Shield right away and go to your clinician or an emergency room.

Toxic Shock Syndrome Warning Signs

• Sudden high fever
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Feeling dizzy, faint or weak
• Sore throat
• Aching muscles and joints
• A rash that looks like a sunburn

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Important Warning

Though the Lea's Shield is very safe, the spermicide used along with a Lea's Shield may not be safe for people who have sex with multiple partners.

Spermicide may cause changes in the vagina and anal area that make it easier to get HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. If you have more than one partner, or your partner has more than one partner, it is better not to use spermicide.

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