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The Fabulous Female Condom
by Ashley Rondini, 01.20.04
Looking for an inexpensive, non-hormonal form of birth control that also protects against infection? Sure, latex condoms come to mind right away. But — surprise! — there's another option out there that gives women more control over the way they protect themselves and their partners: the female condom.
Female condoms are becoming more commonly available in pharmacies and clinics. Presently, the only brand on the market is called FC Female Condom®. They're made of polyurethane, come pre-lubricated in individually sealed packets, and can be purchased in boxes of multiple packets. They are recommended for one-time use only, which brings us to our next point...
Whaddya do with that thing?
To use a female condom correctly, remove it from the packet with clean hands. Make sure that the inner ring is inside, at the bottom of the pouch, which is about 6.5 inches long. Additional packets of lube come in the box, and may help make insertion go more smoothly. Lubricant should be put on the outside and the inside of the pouch.
Holding the inner ring through the wall of the pouch, pinch it into an oval shape. Many people find it easiest to be in a sitting or lying back position when inserting it. Keeping the ring pinched, insert it into the vagina, and once it's far enough in to keep from popping out, push it up behind the pubic bone with one finger. The outer ring will remain outside of the vaginal opening, with its edges covering part of the vulva. The outer ring should be held securely in place while the penis is being inserted, just to make sure that the penis goes into it, rather than between it and the wall of the vagina.
The female condom can also be used safely for penetrative anal sex play, because the outer ring will prevent the condom from going too far inside the body to be "retrieved." (Keep in mind that a fresh condom should always be used before switching from anal to vaginal intercourse.)
Of course, there are a few factors to consider which may not make the female condom the best choice for some people. A woman who has never had vaginal intercourse may have trouble inserting it. If a woman is uncomfortable inserting something into the vagina with her fingers, the female condom may not be an ideal option. On the other hand, if a woman wants to use a "creative teamwork" approach, having a partner help with insertion can be incorporated into foreplay!
Bonus!
Female condoms share many of the advantages of latex condoms, not to mention a few unique perks of their own!
Like the latex condom, the female condom
- reduces the risk of both unwanted pregnancy (95 percent effective versus 98 percent for the latex condom) and sexually transmitted infections, when used consistently and correctly. In fact, female condoms may provide increased protection against infections that can be spread through skin-to-skin contact, like herpes or genital warts, because the vagina, cervix, and part of the labia remain covered by the pouch during sex play.
- is relatively inexpensive (although more expensive than latex condoms)
- is disposable
- does not require a prescription
Unlike the latex condom, the female condom
- does not have to interrupt sex play or interfere with spontaneity, because it can be put in ahead of time and left in
- can continue to be used during sex play, even if a guy loses his erection — the female condom is not dependant on a man's erection to stay in place
- can be used with water-based or oil-based lubrication, because it is made of polyurethane rather than latex
- is safe for people with latex allergies
- does not have to be removed immediately after ejaculation. Because the inner ring anchors the female condom in place, it will not slip the way a latex condom can.
- loosely lines the vagina without constricting the penis
We admit it — on first glance, the size and shape of the female condom may seem a bit odd to those accustomed to using latex condoms. But, fear not! Bearing in mind all of the benefits it offers, with a little bit of practice, you may just learn to love the female condom! |
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