- Female patients of childbearing potential must be willing to use birth control. The 2 birth control methods can be either 2 barrier methods or a barrier method plus a hormonal method to prevent pregnancy, used throughout the study starting with visit 1. The following are considered adequate barrier methods of contraception: diaphragm, condom (by the partner) or sponge. Other methods of contraception such as copper intrauterine device or spermicide may be used. Appropriate hormonal contraceptives will include any registered and marketed contraceptive agent that contains an estrogen and/or a progestational agent (including oral, subcutaneous, intrauterine, or intramuscular agents).Female patient of childbearing potential has a negative serum pregnancy test β-hCG within 7 days prior to receiving the first dose of vorinostat.