Female condoms aren’t the first thing that leaps to mind when condoms are mentioned. We’ve all been conditioned to associate condoms with men, that we often forget that the same product exists – but for women. They’re a great alternative option and excellent selection on the market. There are a number of reasons why a man may not want to wear a condom – maybe they find them genuinely uncomfortable, maybe they significantly reduce their pleasure, maybe they tend to slip off. There are lots of potential reasons why they’re not ideal. Which is why it’s so good that there’s a female alternative. You’d be forgiven for wondering exactly how it works, how its used, how it stays in, but luckily we have answers to all of these questions!
They have exactly the same function as male condoms, they’re a simple barrier method of contraception. The Femidom comes pre-lubricated for ease, they’re made from polyurethane, it’s odourless and disposable and the idea is to protect women by lining the inside of the vagina. As far as insertion goes it can be done before foreplay or during – as long as it’s in before any kind of penetration then the timing isn’t important. Oh, and it doesn’t need the male erection to be inserted, just in case you were wondering. You can put it in yourself and it’s there to prevent the sperm from reaching the uterus. As long as they’re used correctly, they have a95% effectiveness rate, which is slightly down on standard condoms, but as we said before, they’re a good alternative if the standard ones aren’t an option. They’re slightly more fiddly to get into place and you need to be a bit more aware of them than a normal condom, but overall they’re a good contraceptive choice.
Take it out of the packet carefully, don’t rip it open and don’t open it with your teeth because both might damage it. Once you’ve removed it, the smaller ring at the closed end goes into the vagina and the large ring at the open end covers the area around the opening of the condom. One thing that you must be aware of is not to let the penis slip in between the side of the condom and the vaginal wall, make sure that it’s encased fully in the condom. Also make sure that it’s completely secure in place before there’s any contact with the penis. It sounds obvious but in the heat of the moment things can get confused. Some people find that it interrupts sex, so putting it in beforehand as part of foreplay is a good idea. Be careful with these, although they’re strong they can break if they’re not used properly – definitely not something that you want to happen so maybe check every so often that it’s in place and stop if something suddenly feels different.
Some other things to consider are that it can get pushed inside during use, but if it does it’s easy to get out. You just need to make sure that it isn’t happening during sex. Never re-use them, always a fresh one each time and you’re going to have to be comfortable with touching your genital area in order to use a female condom. If that’s something that you aren’t sure about, then these might not be the best choice for you.
When you’re browsing which ones to buy, it’s essential that you pick some with the BSI Kitemark, or the CE mark because these have been tested to very high safety standards.
They’re safe to use all the time, even after giving birth, having a miscarriage or having a termination. Be careful that the penis does not touch the vagina before insertion, be careful not to let it get pushed inside the vagina and ensure the penis is in the condom and not between the side of it and the vaginal wall. Another thing to be aware of that women are more likely to have long fingernails and wear jewellery than men, so keep a special eye out that nothing snags on the condom because they can break easily. If you do wear lots of rings and bracelets, it might be a good idea to remove them prior to inserting the condom. Yes, we know, it’s not the height of sexiness but for the sake of your sexual health and preventing pregnancy, it’s not a big issue in the grand scheme of things.
If you’re keen on buying some female condoms then look no further than the Pasante Female Condom. It uses the latest design and is softer and more sensual than ever. It’s CE marked so you can rest assured that it’s been subjected to rigorous testing and it comes with 5* reviews. If you’re in the market for a Femidom – look no further.
