WHS_female_condom

Birth Control

Female Condom

Science continues to make strides in birth control and pregnancy protection, providing women with more options. Reality, the female condom, was introduced in the United States in 1993 and remains the first of its kind to empower women with the ability to protect themselves against disease and infection without having to rely on her male partners compliance.

The female condom fits inside the vagina like a diaphragm, the soft, internal ring "anchoring" the condom inside the woman's body. Like the male condom, the female condom will contain all pre-ejaculatory and ejaculatory fluid expressed during an act of intercourse.

Use of the female condom is not dependent on an erect penis, thus it can be applied any time during foreplay. The soft ring inside the female condom is squeezed and the condom is then inserted into the vagina. The ring will fit itself against the cervix. Providing additional skin-to-skin protection, the female condom's larger outer ring keeps it, (the condom) from getting pulled or pushed into the vagina during intercourse, but also covers a woman's vulva, which gives her male partner additional protection around the base of the penis and scrotum. To remove, a woman should remain lying down and squeeze and twist the outer ring before pulling the condom out. This keeps the semen contained in the condom.

Made of strong, thin polyurethane, the female condom, when used correctly can have a very high rate of efficacy, as little as 5% failure with perfect use, though research states it has an average failure of 21%. Users must be careful to use a water-based lubricant both inside and outside the female condom. Also, some failure in initial studies was due to the penis not going inside the condom. As a result, users must pay close attention when using this method of disease and pregnancy protection.

Like the male condom, the female condom defends against HIV and AIDS. Outside of this, another major benefit of the female condom is that it allows a woman to protect herself against disease without being dependent on her male partner agreeing to wear a condom. In fact, because use of this condom does not depend on an erect penis, the female condom can be insert as many as 8 hours prior to intercourse.

The following outlines additional benefits:

By protecting against disease, condoms also protect fertility

Condoms are more hygienic, preventing post-coital leakage

Condoms also prevent sperm allergy which some women suffer

In addition to HIV/AIDS, condoms also protect against the following infections and diseases:

Vaginitis caused by infections like Trichomoniasis	Chlamydia
Vaginitis caused by changes in the pH balance of the vagina that can be triggered by semen	Syphilis
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)	Chancroid
Gonorrhea

Female condoms can also provide some protection against the following diseases:

Human papilloma virus (HPV) that can cause genital warts

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) that can cause genital herpes

Hepatitis-B virus

Note:
Both HPV and HSV can be spread through skin-to-skin contact.
Side effects--Some users report irritation to the penis or vagina.

FAQ

What do I do if the condom breaks?
Several things: If you feel it happen during intercourse, IMMEDIATELY pull out. If semen has leaked out onto the skin, wash with soap and water. If semen has leaked into the vagina, ask a reproductive health clinician for information about emergency contraception within 72 hours.
Can I use both the male and female condom together?
No, friction between the two will cause them to break, slip, or be displaced, thus losing all disease and pregnancy protection. If doubling up, it's best to use a condom and a different method, whether it be spermicidal insert or a hormonal method.
Can I re-use a female condom?
No, like the male condom, the female condom is a one-time use only method of disease and pregnancy protection.
Remember . . .
Other than abstinence, no method of birth control offers 100% protection against a pregnancy or disease. If sexually active, latex and polyurethane condoms are your first line of defense against sexually transmitted infections and diseases.

Warning, No method outside of ABSTINENCE is 100% effective against unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.

By being frank with your healthcare provider, the two of you can work together to determine the birth control and disease prevention methods that best suits your health, your preferences and your lifestyle.

For more information on condoms visit the fillowing links below:

Hormonal Birth Control

Barrier Birth Control