Lea's shield

Lea's Shield (Based in New Jersey, USA - Lea Contraceptive, in Europe: LEA contraceptivum) is a female barrier method of contraception.

It is a reusable barrier made of medical-grade silicone, inserted in the vagina over the cervix with the intention to block sperm. It is used in conjunction with spermicide.

Like the cervical cap, the Lea's Shield stays in place by suction. It differs from other female barrier methods, such as the cervical cap and diaphragm in that:
 * it comes in one size (does not need to be specifically fitted to each woman)
 * it has a one-way valve to aid in creation of suction. This valve also allows passage of cervical mucus.

The shield has a loop to assist in removal.

According to the one study available, failure methods are reported at 2.2% (when used with spermicide) to 2.9% (when used without spermicide) for 6 months use, once statistical corrections are applied due to the low number of nulliparous women (never having given birth) (17%) that took part in the study. Without these corrections, the typical failure rates using spermicide are of 15%, with a sample of 59 women. Due to the small size of the sample, the FDA rejected in a first instance its approval.

It is FDA-approved and available by prescription in the United States, though obtainable over the counter in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Canada.

Lea's Shield on Contraceptive Online

Summary of Safety and Effectiveness by the FDA