Female Condoms

See Also:

Male Condoms

Female Condoms topics page

The female condom is a thin, soft, loose-fitting polyurethane plastic pouch that lines the vagina. It has two flexible rings: an inner ring at the closed end, used to insert the device inside the vagina and to hold it in place, and an outer ring which remains outside the vagina and covers the external genitalia. Because the device is made from polyurethane, the female condom can be used with any type of lubricant without compromising the integrity of the device. This is advantageous in countries where personal, water-based lubricants are hard to find or non-existent.

What is the FC2 female condom?

The FC2 female condom is just as effective as the original female condom, but it has some advantages. The FC2 condom is made from a softer material, so it is quieter to use than the original female condom. The FC2 female condom is made using a less-costly process, which should reduce its retail price compared to the original female condom. According to the manufacturer, Female Health Company, the FC2 female condom is distributed in at least 77 countries. In March 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the FC2 condom for distribution in the United States.

Product acceptability is critical to the correct and sustained use of any method. FHI studies of the female condom found that many women liked the device and would recommend it to others. Women tended to accept the device more favorably than did men. While women in general would recommend the device to other women and felt fairly positive about it, many of the women in the studies discontinued use due to partner objections. Overall, difficulties of insertion decreased as experience with the device increased, and use became more comfortable and acceptable with practice.

The acceptability of the female condom can also be assessed by examining the advantages and disadvantages cited by FHI study participants.

• Female-controlled
• More comfortable to men, less decrease in sensation than with the male latex condom
• Offers greater protection (covers both internal and external genitalia)
• More convenient (can be inserted pre-coitus)
• Stronger (polyurethane is 40% stronger than latex)

Historically, contraceptive methods are more effective if they are controlled by the woman with the support and acceptance of the method by the man. Women in Cameroon, Kenya, Thailand and Malawi all cited control over their own health as a positive aspect of the female condom. Female condoms do not constrict the penis as do latex condoms. As a result, sensitivity of the male partner may not be substantially reduced; no loss of sensitivity was reported by study participants in Kenya and Malawi. Since the device covers both the internal and much of the external female genitalia, as well as providing a barrier between the male and female sex organs, it may offer greater protection against STIs. Participants in Kenya, Thailand, and Cameroon all said STI protection was important; those in the African studies also perceived the device to be either durable, strong, efficacious, or an effective alternative to the male condom, or some combination of the four. Finally, the female condom was perceived as more convenient because it can be inserted well in advance of intercourse. For a woman at high risk of STI, the female condom provides a prophylactic option should her partner refuse to use a male condom.

• Not aesthetically pleasing
• Difficulties in insertion/removal

The major disadvantages of the device noted by study participants centered around one of the female condom's major advantages; coverage of the external female genitalia. This coverage had a decidedly negative impact on the device's aesthetics and acceptance. Other problems related to aesthetics included dislike of the appearance of the device, noise associated with use, size and partner resistance. Some participants noted difficulties associated with insertion or removal of the female condom, discomfort, messiness and inconvenience associated with use, and movement of the device during use. A few cases of the penis slipping between the device and the woman's body, and slippage and breakage of the device itself were also noted. While not a factor in FHI studies, female condoms are relatively expensive. This may be a factor limiting their acceptability for large numbers of women.

While condoms are becoming increasingly important as a method to slow sexually transmitted infection, acceptance of the female condom is limited because of real and perceived drawbacks inherent in the method. The concept, appearance and use of the female condom is still unfamiliar to most couples worldwide, and perceptions are apt to change significantly as the female condom is more widely used. Attitudes may become more favorable.