Smart Shopping for Female Condoms
A female condom, or femidom, is a fine, loose fitting and flexible polyurethane sheath worn by women during sex to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. The round, closed end of the sheath covers the cervix and prevents the sperm from exiting the condom, and also helps to hold it in place. The open end of the sheath has a soft ring that overlaps the vaginal opening. The female condom must be placed into the vagina before intercourse, though it can be inserted up to 8 hours prior to sex. It is a single-use barrier method. Female condoms are between 75 to 95 percent effective.
Though the female condom is not difficult to use, it may take you a little while to get used to it. Clinicians recommend that you insert it two or three times to get comfortable with the feel of it before you actually use it during intercourse. One you get the hang of it, it is simple to use and is easily removed after use and can be disposed of by wrapping it in tissue and putting it into the waste bin. Female condoms come pre-lubricated with a non-spermicidal lubricant which makes it easier to insert and more comfortable to use. Spermicidal jelly can be used with it to increase safety.
What to Look for
The female condom is available without prescription and can be purchased at many drug stores or online. If you need extra lubricant, you can use either oil- or water-based lubricants without affecting the integrity of the condom.
Common Pitfalls
A male condom should not be used at the same time as a female condom, as friction between the two can damage the integrity of one or both protective barriers. There are no physical side effects associated with female condoms. There is, however, a chance that the condom could tear or become displaced during sex, which would render it ineffective.
Because the femidom is so large compared to a male condom, its appearance may be quite off-putting for both you and your partner.
If the penis is not guided in carefully and instead of entering the femidom slips between it and the vaginal wall, there will be no protective barrier in place, which can lead to pregnancy and/or sexually transmitted infections.
Member Comments
by hlbr on March 20, 2009 at 11:17 AM
try it if you want ----but it's takes a lot of prep and caution and the Spon'tnaity is wasted on Boys that are so hot they spew on your thigh anyway b4 getting it in. My friends and i use vag,supposiroties with Non-oxy 9 as spermocide with a 0.B .beginner tampon first Every date night even though we don't want sex everytime but if it happens we are covered(leave the tampon in during sex he won't even know it). and we can buy it no questions ask OTC at wal-mart.... we also like the little Films ,we open the packet and put the films in a breathmint films box so no one knows but us(My brother stole one once from my clutch,thinking it was Breath freshner and he gagged on the flavor) we use them Every time even if they don't get penis into IT but the stuff is no us. I was given Sleeppills at a party and raped but with the protection I didn't even worry about any thing but revenge on the AH0l and i got it when he was arrested for underage minor13 (cousin) later nextweek.She is pregn8 by him.