The Good and Bad about Female Condoms
There’s a song that Popeye sings on an old cartoon, “I can do anything that you do.” That’s the song that I think of when I hear the word female condom. Men have condoms, now we have them.
My question after learning about this device is to ask, how does it work? Generally speaking, it is a thin sheath worn vaginally by a woman during sex. Once inserted properly, it will act as a lining preventing pregnancy and infections. In other words, the male condom covers the outside of the penis, while the female condom covers the inside of the vagina.
In my research, I found that there are different types depending on the country you live. The female condom that will be alluded to here is called the FC and FC2 female condom, ones approved by the FDA. Now, on how to insert this type of birth control, notice the instructions given by Avert.org:
“Open the package carefully. Choose a position that is comfortable for insertion - squat, raise one leg, sit or lie down. Make sure the condom is lubricated enough. If you are using the FC2 female condom, make sure the inner ring is at the closed end of the sheath, and hold the sheath with the open end hanging down. Squeeze the inner ring with thumb and middle finger (so it becomes long and narrow), and then insert the inner ring and sheath into the vaginal opening. Gently insert the inner ring into the vagina and feel it go up. Place the index finger inside the condom and push the inner ring as far as it will go. Make sure the condom is inserted straight, and is not twisted inside the vagina. The outer ring should remain on the outside of the vagina.”
Are there benefits? Yes. Mainly, the female condom lets the woman take charge of protecting herself, especially since sometimes men would rather not wear one during sex. It does protect against sexually transmitted diseases and can be inserted in advance. Lastly, because the FC and FC2 are made out of the material nitrile, it cannot be damaged by temperature variations or dampness.
And the downside? The outer ring that hangs out of the vagina is a little off-putting to some women.
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
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