Upsides:
  • You can insert it for up to 8 hours before intercourse.
  • Because the outer ring and some of the sheath hang outside the vaginal opening, the female condom provides better protection than traditional condoms against STIs that are transmitted from skin-to-skin contact, such as genital herpes and genital warts.
  • Unlike latex condoms, female condoms can be used with oil-based lubricants (oils destroy latex).

Downsides:
  • They’re pricey, retailing for at least $3 each. In September 2005, the leading manufacturer of female condoms announced the debut of a second generation model made of nitrile (a synthetic rubber), which they claim will be cheaper than the original. However, this version is not yet readily available.
  • Polyurethane is sturdy, but it just doesn’t have the give that latex does. You may feel a bit like you’re having intercourse with a baggie inside your vagina.
For more information on how to use the female condom, check out The Female Health Company’s How-To Guide.

Cathy Winks has been writing about women’s sexuality for almost twenty years and is the co-author of The Good Vibrations Guide to Sex and Sexy Mamas: Keeping Your Sex Life Alive While Raising Kids. She lives in Oakland, California with her partner and their son. Photo © Isabelle Fontimpe/Fotolia