Home SexualityWomen's sexuality Female Condoms: How to Use, Effectiveness, Advantages and disadvantages

Female Condoms: How to Use, Effectiveness, Advantages and disadvantages

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on

Although it is not as well known or as widely used as the male condom, the female condom or condom is also an excellent option to enjoy safe and pleasant sex, avoid unwanted pregnancies and protect yourself adequately from venereal diseases. It is a secure contraceptive method that can be used for both vaginal and anal intercourse and that, unlike others, does not carry any side effects or relevant changes in the functioning of the woman’s body. However, in the same way, for it to be a reliable method and as safe as possible, it is convenient to know how to use it properly and take into account a series of measures. Keep reading this FastlyHealarticle if you want to know all the details about the use and effectiveness of the female condom.

How the female condom works

The female condom is a kind of cylindrical sleeve that is made of a soft, thin, and resistant plastic called polyurethane; It is inserted into the vagina just before sexual intercourse and is used during sexual intercourse to prevent unwanted pregnancy and to protect against possible sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

This type of condom has two flexible rings, one at each end of the sheath, which allow the vagina to be adequately covered to prevent sperm from entering it. One of the rings is closed and serves to hold the condom in the vagina. When inserted, it is tight on the cervix and covers it all together; for its part, the other ring is open outside the vaginal orifice covering the vulva area.

If the condom is perfectly placed, it will collect precum such as sperm during ejaculation. Therefore, these will not enter the vagina, and there will be no possibility of fertilization.

Steps to apply the female condom

At first, the placement of the female condom can be a bit complicated, but if you use it in all your sexual relations, you will finally be able to put it on with a simple gesture. It is essential to insert the condom properly into the vagina so that this contraceptive method is safe and its effectiveness is not reduced.

Here are the steps you must follow when putting on the female condom:

  1. Before inserting the condom, you can place a little spermicide on the outside of the closed ring; in this way, you will enhance the protection and reduce the chances of an unwanted pregnancy.
  2. Get into a comfortable posture for you, whether standing with one leg propped up on a chair, lying down with your legs bent, sitting on the edge of a chair, or squatting.
  3. Take the condom by the closed ring and squeeze it from the sides using your thumb, index, and middle finger to insert it into the vagina.
  4. Place the condom near the vaginal opening, insert it like a tampon, and release it.
  5. Then insert your index finger and push the ring as far as it will go, down to the cervix.
  6. Make sure that the condom is straight and the outer ring is outside the vagina, as it will be at this point that the penis will enter the vagina.

Once sexual intercourse is over, to remove the female condom, you will only have to turn the outer ring a few times and roll it up to prevent the sperm from spilling, gently stretch it and dispose of it in the garbage can, under no circumstances flush the toilet. Take into account that the condom is a single-use method and is not reusable, so you will have to use a new one in each sexual relationship.

Efficacy of the female condom

One of the aspects that most concerns us when choosing a contraceptive method or another is its effectiveness. In this case, the female condom is considered a safe and reliable method. It has an efficiency of around 90%, similar to that offered by standard methods such as the diaphragm or the male condom.

However, this effectiveness is maintained if the condom is used correctly during sexual intercourse, and is that as the male, the female can fail and be unsafe in case of:

  • Breakage of the condom before or during sexual intercourse. To find out how to act in this case, we advise you to consult the article What to do if a condom breaks.
  • Do not put on a condom before starting penetration.
  • Position it incorrectly.
  • Factory defects in the condom, although these are rare.
  • The sperm comes out of the condom when withdrawn from the vagina.

Advantages and disadvantages of the female condom

After knowing that the female condom is one of the most reliable contraceptive methods for women, let’s see below some of the advantages and disadvantages of its regular use.

Advantage

  • Covering a large part of the female genitalia is excellent for protecting against sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV, HPV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, genital herpes, etc. It also offers protection during masturbation and oral sex.
  • It allows women to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies and STDs without relying on a male condom.
  • It can also be used to have intercourse during menstruation, pregnancy, and after giving birth.
  • During sexual intercourse, the outer ring can stimulate the clitoris and thus generate more pleasure.
  • It does not put pressure on the penis during sexual intercourse.
  • It is a good alternative for those who are allergic to latex.
  • Its use does not carry significant hormonal side effects.
  • They can be used with water-based lubricants.
  • They are easily obtained in pharmacies or supermarkets.

Drawbacks

  • It is slightly more expensive than the male condom.
  • Its effectiveness is significantly reduced if it is not placed correctly.
  • Some people may have irritation or allergic reaction to the vulva or penis.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Female condom: use and efficacy , we recommend that you enter our Sexuality category .

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