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