This document discusses women's experiences obtaining and using diaphragms and cervical caps for birth control. It found that doctors often discourage these options and refuse to provide them, instead pushing hormonal methods. As a result, women turn to online communities to share knowledge about their bodies and proper usage of barriers. These information sharing practices are seen as strategic and subversive ways to access alternative options that better suit women's needs and lifestyles.

1. Strategic and Subversive? The Case of the
Disappearing Diaphragm and Women's Information
Sharing Practices

3. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) at http://www.sexualityandu.ca

6. AUTHORITATIVE
KNOWLEDGE

7. Participant #1
“I contacted multiple doctors and nurses. I
contacted my usual clinic and asked if it was
possible to get fitted for a diaphragm. I was
very much talked down to during that
conversation. I was told it was an irresponsible
method of contraception…told it had a
‘pathetic failure rate’, and I was encouraged to
take hormones again. Other doctors ignored
me and refused to return my calls.”

8. Participant #4
“We get free healthcare here in the UK. My
Doctor laughed and said if ‘I give you a
[diaphragm] you will be back in 3 months for
an abortion’, and wasn’t interested. He didn’t
want to listen to me and suggested I go for an
IUD.”

9. EMBODIED
KNOWLEDGE

10. Participant #3
“Before I found the group, I ordered my own
speculums so I could try to have a look myself
[to make sure my cervical cap fit correctly]. But
that turned out being too difficult to do. But I
think if I hadn't found the group, I would have
just made do with trusting that I was doing it
right when the midwife checked the placement,
and hoped for the best.”

11. Participant #3
“I was fairly comfortable with [my body] before
[I joined the diaphragm group], but I learned a
lot more about my cervix -- finding it, the
changes it goes through during a month, why
it's easier to touch sometimes than others, etc.”

12. SUBVERSIVE
INFORMATION
BEHAVIOUR

13. Participant #3
“If the greater medical community doesn't
widely support the devices, though, grassroots
connection and support online is going to be
really key to keeping them on the market. I feel
really nervous about the lack of official medical
support for these products, because I think a lot
of women just don't know they exist, or that
they're viable options.”

14. Participant #2
“I think there might be opportunities to use our
voting dollars wisely. Women [in Canada and
the US] should order from Europe, reject all
that dubious high-tech hormonal stuff, and
keep sharing information about caps and
diaphragms. Someone will notice eventually,
I’d hope.”

15. Participant #4
“[The difficulty in obtaining a diaphragm], if
anything, made me more determined to get
one.”

16. INFORMATIONAL
STRATEGIES

17. Participant #1
“There is a wonderful online support in these
communities, and it is important we share our
knowledge so it is not forgotten.
All women should be able to choose the
method of contraception which fits their
lifestyle best, but it is not easy to get this
information and service from doctors. So, we
help ourselves and pool our knowledge in
these groups and forums.”

18. Participant #1
“I was very lucky to discover an [online
discussion] group for women using diaphragms
and caps. This has been a great support to me,
as I now realise I am not the only woman to be
treated poorly by doctors when trying to obtain
a cervical barrier. It is both comforting and
frustrating to know my situation is not
unique.”

19. Participant #2
“I know that [online discussion forums] make a
difference to a number of women. It seems to
be difficult to fight big pharma, though.
Creativity and ingenuity is needed. It’s
definitely important to keep the conversation
going, no matter what.”