Review: the Prentif cervical cap was as effective as the diaphragm in preventing pregnancy, and the FemCap was not.

Main results 2 trials met the selection criteria: 1 trial compared the Prentif Cavity Rim Cervical Cap (Lamberts Ltd, Oxford, UK) with the Ortho diaphragm (Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation, Raritan, NJ, USA) (n=1529, 6–24 mo follow up), and 1 trial compared the FemCap cervical cap (rubber manufactured by Hi-Tech Rubber, Anaheim, CA, USA) with the All-Flex diaphragm (Ortho) (n=841, 28 wk follow up). The Prentif cap was as effective as the diaphragm in preventing pregnancy (24 mo follow up); the FemCap was not as effective as the diaphragm (6 mo follow up) (table). Papanicolaou smears showed greater risk of Class I to Class III cytological conversion with the Prentif cap than the diaphragm (odds ratio [OR] 2.31, 95% CI 1.04 to 5.11); rates of abnormal Papanicolaou smears did not differ between FemCap and diaphragm users. Prentif cap users had lower risk of vaginal ulcerations or lacerations than diaphragmusers (OR 0.31, CI 0.14 to 0.71). More FemCap users reported blood on the device on removal than diaphragm users (OR 2.29,CI 1.27 to 4.14). Dislodgement of the device was reported by more users of both the Prentif cap (OR 4.10, CI 3.18 to 5.30) and the FemCap (OR 5.46, CI 3.74 to 7.96) than users of the diaphragm. Discontinuation rates did not differ between Prentif cap and diaphragm users or between FemCap and diaphragm users. Conclusions The Prentif Cavity Rim Cervical Cap was as effective as the diaphragm in preventing pregnancy; the FemCap cervical cap was not as effective as the diaphragm. More cytological changes in the cervix occurred with the Prentif cap than the diaphragm; the FemCap did not differ from the diaphragm for cytological changes.