What you should know about femidoms

When it comes to birth control, the available options can seem endless and confusing at times. There’s the contraceptive pill, the patch, the intrauterine device, diaphragms, condoms, and femidoms. Wait! What are femidoms and how do they work?

What are female condoms?

A femidom is a female condom. It’s a latex sheet worn inside the vagina to prevent semen from reaching the uterus. Femidoms hit the market in the 1990s as an alternative to traditional condoms. The female condom is effective 95% of the time when worn correctly and prevents sexually transmitted diseases when inserted vaginally or anally. They are larger than male condoms which may feel more comfortable for both partners.

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How do female condoms work?

Female condoms act as barriers inside the vagina to block sperm and prevent unwanted pregnancy. Insertion of a femidom is similar to inserting a tampon.

Just remove the female condom from its packaging. Be careful not to tear it.
The female condom has two rings – one at the insertion end and one at the open end. Squeeze the ring at the insertion end and then insert it into the vagina.
The ring at the open end should now cover the area surrounding your vagina.
During intercourse, ensure that the penis doesn’t accidentally go between the condom and the vagina.
After sex, you can just pull gently on the condom to remove it and bin it.

Roughly two-thirds of women in a survey on female condoms said they preferred it over the male condom because it increased sexual pleasure. That’s because the rings on both ends of the femidom may heighten sexual sensation.

Effectiveness of female condoms

The female condom is 95% effective in preventing pregnancy if used correctly. Studies among US users found that the occurence of accidental pregnancies was as low as 2.6%. Therefore, it compares favorably to other types of contraception.

There are a few things you can do to ensure its effectiveness:

Don’t push the condom too far into the vagina.
Make sure the penis is inserted into the open end and not between the condom and the vagina.
Don’t damage the condom when removing it from the package or during insertion.

Where can you buy the female condom?

Female condoms aren’t as readily available as their male counterparts, but many online pharmacies and drug stores do offer them. Costs range from $2.50 to $5 for one condom. Make sure you purchase certified female condoms (those carrying a trademark).

Adverse reactions

There aren’t any reported side effects when using femidoms, but users who are sensitive or allergic to latex or silicone should avoid using condoms in general.

It is not advisable to combine a female condom with a male condom as that may lead to rips and tears. Using two condoms also doesn’t make their contraceptive action any more effective.

Pros and cons of female condoms

Female condoms can actually be inserted up to two hours before sex, which may be preferable for some partners because compared to the male condom, it won’t cause any interruptions. Just like male condoms, femidoms can help prevent sexually transmitted diseases and HIV.

Women can also urinate whilst leaving the condom inserted since it’s not in the way of the urinary tract. There are no serious side effects and the condoms are just as effective as other contraceptive methods if used correctly.

If not inserted in advance, the condom can interrupt sex. Condoms can tear because they’re made from soft material. And, femidoms are harder to find than traditional condoms.