Effectiveness depends on the user: Risk of pregnancy or sexually transmitted infection (STI) is greatest when female condoms are not used with every act of sex. Few pregnancies or infections occur due to incorrect use, slips, or breaks.

Protection against pregnancy:

• As commonly used, about 21 pregnancies per 100 women using female condoms over the first year. This means that 79 of every 100 women using female condoms will not become pregnant.
• When used correctly with every act of sex, about 5 pregnancies per 100 women using female condoms over the first year.

Return of fertility after use of female condom is stopped: No delay

Protection against HIV and other STIs:

• Female condoms reduce the risk of infection with STIs, including HIV, when used correctly with every act of sex.

Side Effects

None

Known Health Benefits              

Help protect against:

• Risks of pregnancy
• STIs, including HIV

Known Health Risks

None

Condoms Medical Eligibility Criteria for Female Condoms

All women and men can use female condoms, except those with severe allergic reaction to latex should not use latex female condoms.

In special circumstances, such as high risk of STIs or HIV, if non-latex condoms are not available, a qualified provider who can carefully assess the woman’s or man’s condition and situation may decide that she or he can use latex condoms.

Condoms made from materials other than latex do not cause allergic reactions.

Female condoms:

• Cannot get lost in the woman’s body.
• Are not difficult to use, but correct use needs to be learned.
• Do not have holes that HIV can pass through.
• Are used by married couples. They are not only for use outside marriage.
• Do not cause illness in a woman because they prevent semen or sperm from entering her body.

• Difficulty inserting the female condom
• Inner ring uncomfortable or painful
• Condom squeaks or makes noise during sex
• Condom slips, is not used, or is used incorrectly
• Difficulty persuading partner to use condoms or not able to use a condom every time
• Mild irritation in or around the vagina or penis (itching, redness, or rash)
• Suspected pregnancy

1. Is the female condom difficult to use?

No, but it does require practice and patience. See Tips for New Users, p. 267.

2. Can female condoms effectively prevent both pregnancy and STIs, including HIV?

Yes. Female condoms offer dual protection, against both pregnancy and STIs, including HIV, if used consistently and correctly. Many people, however, do not use condoms every time they have sex, or do not use them correctly. This reduces protection from both pregnancy and STIs.

3. Can a female condom and a male condom be used at the same time?

No. Male and female condoms should not be used together. This can cause friction that may lead to slipping or tearing of the condoms.

4. What is the best way to make sure the penis goes into the condom and not outside the condom?

To avoid incorrect use, the man or the woman should carefully guide his penis and place the tip inside the outer ring of the condom. If the penis goes between the wall of the vagina and the condom, the man should withdraw and try again.

5. Can the female condom be used more than once?

Reuse of the female condom is not recommended. Reuse of currently available female condoms has not been sufficiently tested.

6. Can the female condom be used while a woman is having her monthly bleeding?

Women can use the female condom during their monthly bleeding. The female condom cannot be used at the same time as a tampon, however. The tampon must be removed before inserting a female condom.

7. Isn’t the female condom too big to be comfortable?

No. Female condoms are the same length as male condoms, but wider. They are very flexible and fit to the shape of the vagina. Female condoms have been carefully designed and tested to fit any woman, whatever the size of her vagina, and any man, whatever the size of his penis.

8. Can a female condom get lost inside a woman’s body?

No. The female condom remains in a woman’s vagina until she takes it out. It cannot go past a woman’s cervix and into the womb (uterus) because it is too large for that.

9. Can the female condom be used in different sexual positions?

Yes. The female condom can be used in any sexual position.

For a family planning consultation:

• Ask your family doctor at your health care facility in your area of residence  (see here). WARNING: if you belong to one of the socially vulnerable groups (see here) you can benefit from free contraceptives!
• Ask  Youth Friendly Health Centers
• Call the RHTC  Hotline (free and confidential call) – 0800-088-08
• Call  RHTC – 022355072 / 060903782 / 078306973
• Write to RHTC e-mail  – cidsr2012@gmail.com