Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions comprising a combination of a polymeric biguanide and a spermicidal surfactant, useful for contraceptive purposes, for their spermicidal or sperm-immobilizing effect, and contraceptive methods and devices using them.The polymeric biguanide is preferably a compound as described in U.K. Patent Specification No. 702,268 or a bisbiguanide as described in U.K. Patent Specification No. 705,838 or 1,095,902, but especially chlorhexidine. The spermicidal surfactant may be derived from ethylene oxide, preferably a condensate of nonylphenol and ethylene oxide, and especially with 9 to 11 molecular proportions thereof.To avoid short-lived activity, the compositions are preferably made substantially free from anions (notably halide ions and especially chloride ions) which cause deactivation, apparently by reducing the solubility of the active ingredients.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of a bisbiguanide compound of the formula:R.sup.1 R.sup.2 N.C(:NH)N:C(NH.sub.2)N--A--N.C(NH.sub.2):N.C(:NH)NR.sup.3 R.sup.4 Iwherein either:(i) R.sup.1 and R.sup.3, which may be the same or different, are each a phenyl radical which is substituted by alkyl, alkoxy, nitro or halogen, R.sup.2 and R.sup.4 are both hydrogen, and A is a 3-9C polymethylene diradical, wherein the polymethylene chain may be interrupted by oxygen atoms and/or by aromatic nuclei; or(ii) the bivalent bridge A is:(a) alkylene of from 2 to 12 carbon atoms having the valence bonds attached to different carbon atoms,(b) --(CH.sub.2).sub.m --X--(CH.sub.2).sub.n -- wherein m an n each represent an integer from 2 to 6 and X is O or S,(c) ##STR1## (d) ##STR2## wherein Z and Z.sup.1 are each alkylene of from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, (e) ##STR3## wherein Q is --O--, --S--, --SO-- or --SO.sub.2 --, (f) ##STR4## R.sup.1 and R.sup.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of polymeric biguanides as topical contraceptive agents, which operate both by rendering vaginal mucus impenetrable to sperm, or by a direct spermicidal action.