The Female Condom

It is also known as a "Femidom" or a Care Contraceptive Sheath

There are a few makes of female condoms available, but the most popular female condom available is manufactured by the Female Health Company in the USA and is called the Reality condom.

The condom is made of polyurethane and is a thin, soft, loose pouch with two flexible rings on either side of the pouch. The ring on the closed side is inserted into the vagina and is used to hold the condom in place. The other ring is spread out over the outer genitals.

Female condom and gay sex

This condom is also reported to be used during homosexual anal sex and is reported to prevent the transmission of disease as effectively as a male condom in this practice.

The HHH Development and the California Family Health Council in the USA are developing a female condom called a "Janesway" condom.

This condom consists of a cotton panty with a latex pouch in the crotch. The idea behind this condom is to protect the entire female genital area and is intended to prevent the exchange of fluids and touching of genital areas.

Studies done show that the female condom is as effective as male condoms, in that they are impermeable to sperm and prevent the transfer of sexual diseases.

The female condom has advantages over the male condom, in that they place a women in control of safer sex issues, do not require an erect penis to be used, and may be used with oil-based lubricants.

Disadvantages reported are that the condom is noisy, pain may be experienced during use, is considered by some to be unattractive, difficult to manipulate and may become displaced during intercourse.

The condom may also not appeal to some women, who associate it with prostitution and infidelity. The cost of the condom is also high, costing around about 1 US dollar, compared to the price of male condoms, at around about 3 US cents apiece.

The condom is reported to be re-usable, and studies have been done that prove that the structural integrity of the Reality Condom remains intact after being used up to 10 times, but this practice is not recommended as disease organisms may remain on the condom, even after the condom has been washed and re-lubricated.