Most spermacidal agents used in creams and condoms contain the active ingredient Nonoxonyl-9 (N9), which inactive sperm by breaking their outer fatty acid membranes (analagous to detergent breaking apart grease). N9 works great, but as a side effect it also kills off "good" bacterial normally found in vaginal flora that helps to protect against yeast infections.
Now, scientists in India have come up with two new non-detergent spermacides, DSE-36 and DSE-37, which target only sperm to inactivate them, thus sparing normal vaginal bacteria. (Read on via New Scientist). Original Article Here via Human Reproduction.
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