Female Condoms

One may ask why I chose this very method of birth control to write a whole blog post on. I guess I picked this medthod because 1. It is not mentioned often, and most people don't know about it and 2. I was curious to know more. Call me weird, call me whatever you will.
This condom has been available in Europe in 1992, and was approved in the U.S. by the FDA in 1993. This female condom carries various brand names in different countries including Reality, Femidom, Dominique, Femy, Myfemy, Protectiv’ and Care. The FC (female condom) is a polyurethane sheath or pouch about 17 cm in length. On each end there is a flexible ring. At the closed end of the sheath, the flexible ring is inserted into the vagina to hold the female condom in place. At the other open end of the sheath, the ring stays outside the vulva at the entrance to the vagina. This ring acts as a guide during penetration and it also stops the sheath bunching up inside the vagina. This condom does not contain spermicide.

In 2005, a new version of the condom was introduced, FC2. This has the same design as the original version but is made of nitrile, which may make it cheaper to produce. The FC2 began large-scale production in 2007.

The VA w.o.w. Condom Feminine (or VA for short) has been distributed as part of HIV prevention efforts in South Africa since 2004. It recently has become available in Brazil, Indonesia and through government clinics in Portugal. One more trial is needed before the
product can gain FDA approval for sale in the USA. The VA is made of latex.

There are advantages and disadvantages to using the FC.
The advantages are:

• Opportunity for women to share the responsibility for the condoms with their partners
• A woman may be able to use the female condom if her partner refuses to use the male condom
• The female condom will protect against most STDs and pregnancy if used correctly
• The FC female condom can be inserted up to 8 hours before intercourse so as not to interfere with the moment
• The FC female condoms are made of polyurethane and nitrile, which are less likely to cause an allergic reaction than latex. These materials can be used with oil-based as well as water-based lubricants. No special storage requirements are needed because polyurethane and nitrile are not affected by changes in temperature and dampness. In addition, these materials are thin and conduct heat well, so sensation is preserved.

The disadvantages are:

• The outer ring or frame is visible outside the vagina, which can make some women feel self-conscious
• The female condoms can make noises during intercourse
  
• Some women find the female condom hard to insert and to remove
• It has a higher failure rate in preventing pregnancy than non-barrier methods such as the pill
• It is relatively expensive and relatively limited in availability in some countries
• It is recommended that the female condom be used only once