Are Female Condoms Effective And How Do You Use Them?
To answer this question I’m going to use the term internal condom instead of female condom, and external condom for male condom.
The newer version of the internal condom is made of nitrile, a big plus for people who are sensitive or allergic to latex!
Photo by Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition on Unsplash
As you can see in the picture, the internal condom has two rings, one at the end of it, and one inside of it (it’s a bit hard to see the inside ring in this photo).
If you’re using this for vaginal intercourse, then you squeeze that inside ring and then place that as far into the vagina as you can get it, but make sure to leave that outer ring outside the body.
This might take a bit of practice, so I’d suggest trying it out a few times before you use it during sex.
You may want to try different positions when trying to insert it. Most people I know say that squatting helps during insertion.
And that’s it – you’re ready for sex!
When you’re done, twist that outer ring around once and then pull it out and throw it out.
Using it for anal? Follow the same steps as above. Squeeze the ring and insert it as far into your rectum as you can. Make sure to leave the outer ring on the outside of the body.
You can also use the internal condom for anal like an external condom, and just place it over the penis and then insert the penis into the anus.
Removal is the same, twist the outer ring, pull it out and throw it out.
Planning on doing both anal and vaginal? You can absolutely use the internal condom for both but DON’T USE THE SAME EXACT ONE! This goes for external condoms too. If you switch from anal to vaginal, or vice versa, use a new condom.
How effective are internal condoms at preventing pregnancy? The rates are a little lower than external condoms. In the real world, the external condom is 87% effective, and the internal condom is 79% effective at preventing pregnancy.
But that’s for pregnancy. For preventing STI transmission, the internal condom may provide greater protection because it lessens the amount of skin to skin contact.
Keep in mind that when it comes to condoms, both internal and external, the effectiveness is impacted by how you use it. Make sure that you use them correctly, that you store them in a cool place, and that you don’t use one that’s expired.
And the other thing to keep in mind is your lube choice- not all lubes can be used with all types of materials, so make sure your lube is safe to use with the condom you’re using.
Until next time, be safe and have fun!
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