Condoms for Women: Safe or Shame?

Yes, you read it right, a female condom. Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved female condoms in 1993, they haven't just been embraced. While the proper use of a male condom is frequently demonstrated using a banana, health workers show how to use female condom using a vagina model or a hand.

It has flexible rings at each end. Just before vaginal intercourse, it is inserted deep into the vagina. The ring at the closed end holds the pouch in the vagina. The ring at the open end stays outside the vaginal opening during intercourse. And during anal intercourse, it is inserted into the anus.

By covering the inside of the vagina or anus and keeping semen and pre-cum out, condoms reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections.

How Safe Are Female Condoms?

Almost everyone can use female condoms safely. Actually, female condoms can be used by just about any woman who can use a tampon. They are also safe to use during anal sex.

How to use female condom

• Put spermicide or lubricant on the outside of the closed end.
• Find a comfortable position. You can stand with one foot on a chair, sit on the edge of a chair, lie down, or squat.
• Squeeze together the sides of the inner ring at the closed end of the condom and insert it into the vagina like a tampon.
• Push the inner ring into the vagina as far as it can go — until it reaches the cervix.
• Pull out your finger and let the outer ring hang about an inch outside the vagina.
• If you want to use the female condom for anal intercourse, follow above instructions for inserting it into the anus.
• During vaginal intercourse, it is normal for the female condom to move side to side. Stop intercourse if the penis slips between the condom and the walls of the vagina or if the outer ring is pushed into the vagina. As long as your partner has not yet ejaculated, you can gently remove the condom from the vagina, add extra spermicide or lubricant, and insert it once again.

If your partner has ejaculated outside the female condom into your vagina, you may want to consider using emergency contraception (morning after pill). Emergency contraception can prevent pregnancy if started up to five days after unprotected intercourse. The sooner you start it, the better it will work.

• To remove the female condom
• Squeeze and twist the outer ring to keep semen inside the pouch.
• Gently pull it out of the vagina or anus.
• Throw it away. Do not flush it down the toilet.
• Do not reuse the female condom.

And there’s a video of how to use it. Sadly, it’s animated. Hahaha

Male Condoms vs Female Condoms

• Availability: Male condoms are certainly available whereas availability of female condoms is quite low.

• Price: Female condoms are relatively expensive then male condoms.

• Effectiveness: Both the condoms provide effective protection against sexual transmitted diseases (STDs) and unwanted pregnancy

• Lubricants: With female condoms you can either use oil-based or water-based lubricants. If you are using male latex condoms then only water based lubricants can be used. But, if the condom is made up of polyurethane or lamb intestine then you can safely use any kind of lubricant.

• Usage: Male condoms are placed just before intercourse. Female condoms can be inserted 8 hours before sex.

• Comfort:  Some people complain that it is difficult to insert female condoms, particularly the inner rim of the condom. Some criticize them for the fact that they move during the act and is really confusing. On the contrary, male condom tightly fits around the penis and stays on its place while you have sex. If you are not using right size then it can slip or break. 

Types of Female Condom

FC Condom

They are also known as “reality condom” with lubricant. A loose fitted plastic tube which is worn inside the vagina wherein the open end remains outside the vagina while the closed end covers the cervix.

FC2 Condom

Made from synthetic nitrile which is somewhat cheaper that FC condom, where  the inner ring facilitated insertion while the outer ring helps condom to be on right place during the intercourse.

Path Women's Condom

Path condoms are made of polyurethane. Many women complain that the inner ring of the condom cause pain so it is been replaced by foam dots. Inner ring of the condom is replaced by foam dots for easy insertion. Besides this polyurethane is refined to get softer and thinner product, this provides more comfort to the person using it.

VA Wow condom

It is made up of latex material and has flexible V frame along with foldable inner sponge that holds the condom during sex. VA Wow condoms are lubricated and claim to have 97% customer satisfaction.