Introduced in 1994, female condoms are inserted into the vagina to offer a protective sheath. Their invention was a significant breakthrough, giving heterosexual women control over protecting themselves from an unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections in any this spermicide, it may aid in the situation, including times when a man refuses to use a condom. Women are more vulnerable to acquiring sexually transmitted infections than men, and because they often have fewer symptoms they may not be diagnosed as readily. Until now, the most reliable method of protection for a woman who had sex with a man was the male condom—and that method depended completely on the man’s agreement to use one.
The female condom available in the United States is made of plastic or polyurethane and is lubricated with a silicone-based lubricant. It consists of a pouch with a ring at each end. One ring is inserted into the vagina and fits around the cervix as does a diaphragm. The outer ring covers part of the labia, providing protection of the covered areas from some sexually transmitted infections that require skin-to-skin contact for transmission. These types of condoms may offer more protection than male condoms against infections that are transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, such as herpes and genital warts, although this has not yet been proven. The female condom can be inserted up to two hours before sexual contact and is removed after sexual intercourse. It is also used just once.
Because it is made of plastic, the female condom is not damaged by heat as is the male latex condom, and it can be used with either oil-or water-based lubricants. It prevents penetration by common sexually transmitted bacteria and viruses. Each female condom costs a bit more than a male condom. The failure rates resulting in pregnancy are similar to those for the diaphragm and cervical cap—about 15-18 percent. This rate may be due partly to incorrect use, as with male condoms, and this percentage may well decrease as a woman gains experience in using the female condom.
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