Condoms

Are condoms only for men?

The answer is no, because female condom, although it is less used, does also exist.

• What is a female condom?

The female condom is a lubricated sheath worn by the female inside of her vagina during sex. It is made of polyurethane, a type of plastic. The female condom acts as a barrier to sperm and many sexually transmitted diseases by completely lining the vagina. The female condom has a ring at each end. One ring, at the closed end of the sheath, lies inside the vagina. The other ring, at the open end of the sheath, lies outside the vagina after the female condom has been inserted. The female condom provides protection against pregnancy and some protection against STDs.

• How effective is a female condom?

If women use the female condom every time they have sexual intercourse and follow instructions every time, it is 95% effective. This means that if 100 women use the female condom all the time and always use it correctly, 5 women will become pregnant in a year. Although it's obvious that the female condom is most effective against pregnancy when it is used all the time and always used correctly, perfect use hardly ever happens. If women use the female condoms, but not perfectly, it is 79% effective. This means that if 100 women use the female condom, 21 or more women will become pregnant in a year. It has been reported that the male condom is 94% protective against HIV infection (6 out of 100 women will get HIV), but the female condom is pretty new, so it is not clear exactly how effective it is against sexually transmitted diseases. The effectiveness of the female condom at preventing STDs has not been studied to the same extent as male condoms, however it has been put forth that it should have similar effectiveness to preventing pregnancy. They are also dangerous for those who have polyurethane allergies.Sensitivities to silicone or polyurethane may also be a problem.

• What are the advantages of a female condom?

The plastic Female condoms have the advantage of being compatible with oil-based lubricants as they are not made of latex.The external genitals of the wearer and the base of the penis of the inserting partner may be more protected than when the male condom is used, however see studies below. Inserting a female condom does not require male erection.

www.youngwomenshealth.org/femalebarrier1.html

What is the efficiency of a condom? Is it totally safe?

• What are the main causes of failure?

Condom users may experience slipping off the penis after ejaculation,breakage due to faulty methods of application or physical damage (such as tears caused when opening the package), or breakage or slippage due to latex degradation (typically from being past the expiration date or being stored improperly). Even if no breakage or slippage is observed, 1–2% of women will test positive for semen residue after intercourse with a condom Different modes of condom failure result in different levels of semen exposure. If a failure occurs during application, the damaged condom may be disposed of and a new condom applied before intercourse begins - such failures generally pose no risk to the user. One study found that semen exposure from a broken condom was about half that of unprotected intercourse; semen exposure from a slipped condom was about one-fifth that of unprotected intercourse. Standard condoms will fit almost any penis, although many condom manufacturers offer "snug" or "magnum" sizes. Some studies have associated larger penises and smaller condoms with increased breakage and decreased slippage rates (and vice versa), but other studies have been inconclusive Experienced condom users are significantly less likely to have a condom slip or break compared to first-time users, although users who experience one slippage or breakage are at increased risk of a second such failure.An article in Population Reports suggests that education on condom use reduces behaviors that increase the risk of breakage and slippage. A Family Health International publication also offers the view that education can reduce the risk of breakage and slippage, but emphasizes that more research needs to be done to determine all of the causes of breakage and slippage. Among couples that intend condoms to be their form of birth control, pregnancy may occur when the couple does not use a condom. The couple may have run out of condoms, or be traveling and not have a condom with them, or simply dislike the feel of condoms and decide to "take a chance." This type of behavior is the primary cause of typical use failure (as opposed to method or perfect use failure). Another possible cause of condom failure is sabotage. One motive is to have a child against a partner's wishes or consent.Some commercial sex workers report clients sabotaging condoms in retaliation for being coerced into condom use. Placing pinholes in the tip of the condom is believed to significantly impact their effectiveness.