Now a nonhormonal contraception option in more than 40 countries
PATH and KESSEL medintim GmbH are pleased to celebrate ten years of expanded access to the Caya®* contoured diaphragm, the first new contraceptive diaphragm launched in the modern era.
Now registered or approved in more than 40 countries around the world, hundreds of thousands of people have chosen to use this contraceptive option because it is easy to use, hormone-free, and reusable for two years. First marketed in European Union countries, Canada, and the United States, interest in Caya has grown in other regions, including Australia, Latin America, and Africa.
The single-sized design fits most bodies comfortably and makes Caya easier to supply and provide compared with traditional diaphragms that come in a range of sizes and thus require a physical exam by a health care provider to determine which size fits.
The Caya diaphragm is available without a prescription and can be purchased over the counter at a pharmacy or clinic without requiring a visit to a health care provider. The diaphragm is recommended for use with a contraceptive gel, such as Caya Gel—a lactic acid-based contraceptive gel distributed by Medintim.
Recent pilot introductions in Benin and Niger, countries without previous diaphragm experience, showed high uptake and acceptability.
Currently, to help build awareness of this contraceptive option, country distribution partners are using multiple strategies for local promotion and access, including marketing online and raising visibility via social media influencers. The Global Health Media Project produced a training video on Caya for frontline health workers.
Caya is manufactured by KESSEL medintim GmbH, a company with 30 years of experience producing and marketing sexual health products.
Population Services International (PSI)/Alexandra Angel; Expanding Effective Contraceptive Options (EECO) project implemented by Catalyst Global Health and PSI.
More information about the Caya Diaphragm:
- A New Contraceptive Diaphragm in Niamey, Niger: A Mixed Methods Study on Acceptability, Use, and Programmatic Considerations. Available here.
- Introducing the Caya Diaphragm in Francophone West Africa. Catalyst Global document available here.
- On-Demand Contraception: Why Do Women Want It? Video from Benin from the Association Béninoise pour le Marketing Social et la Communication pour la Santé and the Expanding Effective Contraceptive Options.
- Reinventing the past to Reshape the Future of Contraception: the SILCS story. Available here in English and French.
*Caya is a registered trademark of KESSEL medintim GmbH.