Female Condom – The Right to Insist

Another angle to the campaign for more proactive measures on the prevention of sexually transmittable diseases and prevention of pregnancy not prepared for is the need to make the female condom readily available as matter of choice and women right. The female condom gives women direct control over both their reproductive choices (contraception) and sexual health.

The female condom  is a device that is used during sexual intercourse as a barrier contraceptive and to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs—such as gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV) and unintended pregnancy. It is worn internally by the female partner and provides a physical barrier to prevent exposure to ejaculated semen or other body fluids.

By using female condom, women can protect themselves when their partner does not want to use a male condom. Other advantages of the female condoms are: it may provide enhanced sensation for men as compared to male condoms; most variants of the female condom are hypo allergenic and is safe to use with people who are allergic to rubber latex; it can be inserted hours before intercourse; female condoms are not dependent on the penis being erect for insertion and does not require immediate withdrawal after ejaculation. And more: female condom is not tight or constricting; it usually comes highly lubricated and the material warms to body temperature.

The female condom is a thin, soft, loose-fitting sheath with a flexible ring at each end. They typically come in various sizes. For most vaginas, a moderately sized condom is adequate; women who have recently given birth should try a large first. The inner ring at the closed end of the sheath is used to insert the condom inside the vagina and to hold it in place during intercourse. The rolled outer ring at the open end of the sheath remains outside the vagina and covers part of the external genitalia.

The first generation female condom (FC1) was first made from polyurethane. The second generation female condom (FC2) is made from synthetic nitrile. The newer nitrile condoms are less likely to make potentially distracting crinkling noises. FC2 was developed to take the place of FC1, providing the same safety and efficacy during use, but at a lower cost. A recent version of the female condom is made from natural latex, the same material used in male condoms; this condom does not make the noises some experience with plastic condoms.

Using the female condom
To insert the female condom:

Put spermicide or lubricant on the outside of the closed end.

Find a comfortable position. (Stand with one foot on a chair, sit on the edge of a chair, lie down, or squat.)
Squeeze together the sides of the inner ring at the closed end of the condom and insert it into the vagina like a tampon.
Push the inner ring into the vagina as far as it can go — until it reaches the cervix.

Pull out finger and let the outer ring hang about an inch outside the vagina.

To remove the female condom

Squeeze and twist the outer ring to keep semen inside the pouch.

Gently pull it out of the vagina or anus
Throw it away. Do not flush it down the toilet.

Just like the male condom, reusing a female condom is not recommended. Although, there is some evidence to suggest that polyurethane female condoms can be washed, disinfected, and reused. Especially, in the light that the per unit price of female condoms is higher than male condoms.

As with all barrier contraceptives, water or silicone-based lubricants are safe to use with any female condom. Oil should not be used with a female condom made of latex.

Benefits

Key benefits of female condoms over other methods of  contraception are:
allow women to share responsibility for preventing infection
do not require a prescription
can be used by people who are allergic to latex
can be used with oil-based as well as water-based lubricants
do not have an effect on a woman's natural hormones
may enhance sex play — the external ring may stimulate the clitoris and penis during vaginal intercourse
stay in place whether or not a man maintains his erection

Drawbacks

On the other hand, some may not like the female condom because of the following
cause irritation of the vagina, vulva, penis, or anus
slip into the vagina during vaginal intercourse, or into the anus during anal intercourse
reduce feeling during intercourse
When used correctly, the female condom has a 5% failure rate. However, inconsistent or incorrect usage has been shown to result in a 21% failure rate.

Thus, from the foregoing, gone are the days when the power to prevent sexually transmittable diseases and unwanted pregnancy lies only in the hands of the male; with the advent of the female condom, women can now insist on their own slate preventing the aforementioned, by using the condom even when male condom is not available or their men declined using theirs.