| Female Condom
What is a Female
The female condom helps protect partners from pregnancy and sexually
transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS. It is the only female-controlled
device offering this protection. A female condom is a thin, loose-fitting
and flexible plastic tube worn inside the vagina. A soft ring at
the closed end of the tube covers the cervix during intercourse
and holds it inside the vagina. Another ring at the open end of
the tube stays outside the vagina and partly covers the lip area.
A female condom provides a barrier between partners to prevent sharing
bodily fluids like semen, blood, or saliva. This helps ensure that
sexually transmitted infections are not passed and pregnancy does
not occur. Female condoms are 79-95% effective.
Female condoms can be inserted up to 8 hours before intercourse
and are only effective when placed prior to intercourse. At first,
female condoms can be awkward to use, but they are easy with practice.
Take your time and try inserting the condom before sexual play.
You can stand with one foot up on a chair, sit with your knees apart,
or lie down. Lubrication can help keep the condom in place and lessen
noise during intercourse. Adding spermicide before or after insertion
can reduce the risk of pregnancy.
A female condom and a male condom
should not be used at the same time.
To insert the condom, squeeze the ring at the closed end of the
tube. Use one hand to spread the outer lips, and insert the squeezed
condom into the vaginal canal. The inner ring should be pushed
just past the pubic bone and over the cervix.
After insertion, make sure the condom is not twisted. About one
inch of the open end will stay outside the body. The outer ring
of the female condom will need to be held in place during intercourse,
but may increase female stimulation. After intercourse, squeeze
and twist the outer ring to keep all fluids, including sperm,
inside the condom. Gently pull it out and throw it away.
Female condoms can be used as dental dams to prevent the spread
of sexually transmitted infections during oral sex. Cut off the
closed end of the condom and down the side. This will give you
a rectangular sheet. Place the sheet over the genitals or over
a partner's mouth. Be careful to keep any areas of contact fully
covered by the condom during oral sex. After oral sex, throw away
There are no physical side effects associated with the use of female
condoms. However, there is a chance that a female condom could break
or slip during sex. If this occurs, women may consider taking Emergency
Contraception or the "Morning After" Pill.
In the US, Reality brand condoms are sold over-the-counter
and are available in most drugstores. If you cannot find them locally,
you can buy them on the internet.
The United Nation's HIV/AIDS prevention program recognizes the
importance and effectiveness of the female condom and is working
to make it available globally.
- Prevents the spread of sexually transmitted infections, including
HIV and AIDS.
- Protects the vagina and vulva.
- Does not reduce a male partner's stimulation.
- Available without a prescription.
- No hormonal side effects.
- Can be used by people with latex sensitivities.
- Prelubricated and can be used with oil and water-based lubricants.
- Can be inserted before sex play begins.
- Insertion can be part of sex play.
- Erection not necessary to keep condom in place.
- Does not affect future fertility.
- Noticeable during sex.
- Sometimes difficult to insert or use.
- Does not contain spermicide.
- Can break or leak.
- About three times more expensive than male condoms.
The cervix is the opening to the uterus where menstrual blood,
babies, and sperm pass. It is also the opening through which abortions
are performed. Barrier methods of birth control, including the female
condom, diaphragm, and cervical cap, work by covering the cervix
and preventing sperm from entering the uterus. Hormonal methods
of birth control, including oral contraceptives, Norplant, Depo
Provera, and Lunelle, affect the mucus around the cervix and make
the opening more resistant to sperm.
Basic Info about
about Female Condom
FAQ on Condom