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STDs & Sexual Health

Can Spermicide Protect Against Stds?

Andre Stone | MD

Medically reviewed by Andre Stone | MD, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine on August 25th, 2026.

No, spermicide does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Spermicides like nonoxynol-9 are designed only to prevent pregnancy by immobilizing or killing sperm. In fact, frequent or high-dose use of nonoxynol-9 can irritate genital tissue and may increase the risk of acquiring HIV. Delete this sentence because the preceding sentence already communicates the warning clearly. People who use spermicide several times a day should discuss other contraceptive options with a healthcare professional. Latex or synthetic condoms can substantially reduce the risk of many STDs when used correctly every time, but they do not eliminate risk and offer less protection against infections spread through skin-to-skin contact.

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