spermatocide

Thân thiện

A pharmacist recommends a spermatocide to a customer.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A substance that kills sperm cells: A spermatocide is a chemical agent, typically used in contraceptive products like creams, gels, foams, or suppositories, designed to immobilize and destroy spermatozoa to prevent pregnancy.

Usage

• Spermatocides are a form of barrier contraception, often used in conjunction with physical barriers like diaphragms.
• The term is used in medical, pharmaceutical, and family planning contexts.
• Example: "The doctor recommended using a spermatocide with the diaphragm for increased contraceptive effectiveness."

Examples

• Noun:
  • Nonoxynol-9 is a common spermatocide found in many over-the-counter contraceptive products.
  • The efficacy of the method depends on the correct application of the spermatocide before intercourse.

Advanced Usage

• As a modifier: The term can function attributively (like an adjective) to describe other nouns.
  • Spermatocide gel: A gel formulation containing the sperm-killing agent.
  • Spermatocide efficacy: Refers to how effective a substance is at killing sperm.

Variants and Related Words

• Spermicide (noun): This is a more common and frequently used synonym for spermatocide.
• Spermicidal (adjective): Describing the quality of killing sperm (e.g., spermicidal jelly).

Synonyms

• Spermicide: An agent that destroys spermatozoa.
• Sperm-killing agent: A descriptive synonym.

Notes on Meaning

• The word is a compound of "spermato-" (relating to sperm) and "-cide" (a suffix meaning killer or act of killing). It refers specifically to the chemical's function, not a device or physical barrier.
• It is considered a less common term than its synonym "spermicide."

Học thuật

Noun

1. a contraceptive agent that kills spermatozoa

Từ đồng nghĩa

• spermicide