The International Conference on Population and Development call for research on female barrier methods led to the Caya contoured diaphragm, an innovative diaphragm designed to meet the needs of women and their partners and expand options for nonhormonal barrier contraception.

This product contributes to strengthening universal access to sexual and reproductive health care by offering a woman-initiated family planning method particularly suited to those who want a nonhormonal method or have infrequent sex.

Consumer experience is breaking down misconceptions about diaphragm uptake and acceptability across countries.

Introduction through private-sector channels may pave the way for broader uptake and access.

Public-sector policymakers and program managers, as well as small business entrepreneurs, may use this summary of the product and market development of the Caya contoured diaphragm to spark national and regional dialogue about the most effective way to expand universal access to sexual and reproductive health by adding a novel nonhormonal barrier method to the contraceptive method mix offered in country.

We document the effort over the last 30 years to respond to the call by women advocates at the International Conference on Population and Development for more woman-initiated single or dual-purpose contraceptive methods by developing the Caya contoured diaphragm, an innovative diaphragm designed to meet the needs of women and their partners and expand options for nonhormonal barrier contraception. We describe the complex and interrelated set of activities undertaken to develop the product using a human-centered design process and how we are working to create a corollary sustainable market. This review includes the evidence generated around improved acceptability among couples in low- and middle-income countries and depicts challenges and practical actions on how to dispel misconceptions about diaphragm use. Importantly, we share programmatic lessons learned on increasing universal access to this new sexual and reproductive health technology. Following our new model for increasing access to new and underutilized methods, Caya is now registered and being marketed in nearly 40 countries worldwide.

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