The female condom is a contraceptive method that can replace the contraceptive pill, to protect against unwanted pregnancy, in addition to protecting against sexually transmitted infections such as HPV, syphilis or HIV.
The female condom is about 15 centimeters long and is made up of 2 rings of different sizes that are joined together to form a kind of tube.
The side of the condom’s narrowest ring is the portion that needs to be inside the vagina, and is closed, preventing sperm from passing into the uterus, protecting the woman from male secretions.
How to use the female condom
To place it correctly and not cause discomfort, you must:
- Hold the condom with the opening downwards;
- Fasten in the middle of the smaller ring which stays up, forming an ‘8’ to insert it more easily into the vagina;
- Choose a comfortable positionwhich can be squatted or with one of the legs bent;
- Insert the ‘8’ shaped ring inside the vagina leaving about 3 cm outside.
To remove the condom, after intercourse, you must hold and turn the largest ring that was left outside the vagina, so as not to let the secretions come out and then you must pull the condom out. After this, it is important to tie a knot in the middle of the condom and throw it in the trash.
Why use a female condom?
The use of the female condom is important to, in addition to avoiding pregnancy, prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases.
However, for those who are just trying to avoid pregnancy there are other contraceptive methods they can use. See the main contraceptive methods, their advantages and disadvantages.
Care when using the female condom
Some precautions that should be taken into consideration when using the female condom are:
1. Putting on a condom before sexual intercourse
It is recommended that the female condom be placed before intimate contact or shortly after starting intercourse, avoiding direct contact between the mouth and penis and the vagina. The female condom can be used up to 8 hours before sexual intercourse.
2. Check the packaging before opening
The packaging of any condom must be observed before use to check the expiration date and whether there are any holes or damage that could compromise the safety of the contraceptive method.
3. Putting on the condom correctly
Although it is easy to identify which side the condom opens, in some situations the woman may become confused, ending up inserting the female condom backwards. This causes the opening to be inward and the penis cannot enter. In these cases, the penis can pass between the condom and the vagina, nullifying the desired effect.
4. Leaving part of the condom out
After putting on the condom, it is very important to leave a piece out as this prevents the condom from moving and prevents the penis from coming into contact with the outside of the vagina. Therefore, when the condom is incorrectly placed, it can cause the penis to come into direct contact with the vagina, increasing the risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections or becoming pregnant.
Therefore, after placing the condom inside the vagina, about 3 cm should be left out to protect the external region.
5. Use lubricant during intercourse
Lubricant helps reduce friction during intimate contact, facilitating penetration. When there is not enough lubrication, the movement of the penis can create a lot of friction, which can lead to tears in the condom.
