One Last Try! The Diaphragm

My mum found someone through Facebook who fits and sells #diaphragms. I messaged her about my interest in diaphragm and natural contraception in general. She told me that she has a degree in molecular genetics and microbiology from the University of Toronto and a Master’s in medicine from the Technion in Haifa. She added that although she is not a gynecologist, she takes great interest in women’s sexual health and believes that women’s ability to choose their own contraception, specifically non-hormonal, non-invasive, and non-inflammatory methods, is extremely important. This, naturally, resonated with me, and we discussed how to proceed. She sent me a detailed questionnaire about my sexual and medical history, including my goals and aspirations concerning contraceptives and sexual relations. I appreciated the depth of the inquiry prior to consultancy and treatment, something that the medical health care system in Israel (and elsewhere) certainly lacks.

From there, things started to get tricky. She lives in Haifa and receives patients in Haifa, and all over Israel, by prior appointment. However, she said it was important the appointment fall on ovulation when the cervix is highest. For months we tried to schedule but every time something went wrong – either we miscalculated my ovulation or things came up.

Finally, we made a last-minute appointment in my apartment. She told me to dedicate about 2 hours to our appointment, what sounded a bit of an exaggeration as I had already been fitted once by a gynecologist and it took exactly 5 minutes. But I knew that this was a very thorough person who wants to be sure, and I gathered we would talk a lot before and after the fitting.

When she arrived, she spread out about 10 different diaphragms and Kayas (oval-shaped diaphragms) on my bed. First, she theoretically explained how to insert the diaphragm with the help of slides that she displayed on her phone. Then she fitted me, again and again, because she claimed it was hard to fit me, either because I wasn’t relaxing properly or because my cervix goes a bit sideways. Finally, she decided on a size (a size bigger than my gynecologist prescribed) and told me to insert it myself. The whole procedure took two whole hours. She said I wasn’t inserting it correctly, even though I was doing it exactly as I had done at the gynecologist clinic. It was all very uncomfortable. I am used to check-ups at gynecologists, done swiftly and clinically, but this time it was long and invasive. It was even weird to be doing all this in my own bedroom. It exhausted me, and eventually, I said I’d had enough, and I’m satisfied with what we’ve managed to accomplish, and I’d like to buy a diaphragm and finish the appointment. She said she wasn’t comfortable ‘releasing’ me before I’d manage to properly cover my cervix. I tried another few times but eventually gave up. The most upsetting part was that she didn’t even have my size with her, so she left me a punctured demo diaphragm to practice with and promised to mail me my real diaphragm.

The appointment cost me 1400 NIS, for consultancy, fertility awareness info, and buying 4 tubes of natural spermicide. I finished the appointment disappointed, exhausted, and very unsatisfied.

So why am I telling you this?

Although my appointment was unsuccessful, this woman fits and sells diaphragms. That’s still something, in terms of my research. If you’re interested in her services, comment below and I’ll send you her contact. She teaches fertility awareness, tracks fertility together with her patients through an app called Kindara, and teaches them to track themselves. I personally did not gain much from the appointment, but it doesn’t mean it will be that way for others. Her price range is not cheap, but there aren’t many alternatives at the moment. Consultancy costs 900 NIS, her diaphragms and Kayas cost 275 a piece, and natural spermicide is also 275 for a tube (that adds up to about 45 uses). I’m using her spermicide together with a condom. You easily inject it into your vagina with a syringe and wait 15 minutes before having sexual intercourse, and it works for 3 hours.

I wish you a relaxing weekend,

ֿMelanie