Have you heard of female condoms? You might also hear them referred to as “internal condoms.” If you’re like me, they may have been given a passing reference in a sex ed class. The problem is, when you’re barely into puberty it’s hard to even imagine what to do with an elephant-trunk shaped tube of polyurethane (now nitrile). Which end is up? How do you get the thing in there? Plus, for the poor teacher stuck with demonstrating this stuff, stretching a condom over a banana must seem so much more manageable.
I also wondered why women would ever need a female condom. I mean, aren’t we just supposed to insist that a dude do the honorable thing and suit up before sex? Sure, that’s important. But so are options, especially since condoms – and every other form of birth control, for that matter – aren’t perfect. Female condoms are one more option to consider – and a better one than you might think. So, in honor of Global Female Condom Day (yes, it’s a thing), here are eight things you may not know about female condoms.
They go in easy(ish)
Think back to the first time you ever used a tampon. Or, heck, the first time you had sex. It took some practice, right? But once you got the hang of it, it was smooth sailing from there. The same goes for the female condom. It isn’t hard to put in, it just takes a few tries to get the hang of it. Get your partner to help; most guys are pretty keen to put anything in there if you ask nicely.
They get the job done
Female condoms have an edge on most other forms of birth control for women: They protect against pregnancy and STIs. Huzzah! Plus, according to a report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), they’re "at least as effective" as male condoms at both. There’s even some evidence that female condoms provide better protection against diseases like genital herpes or syphilis because they provide more coverage. Now that is definitely a good thing. (Check out more options in We Asked An Expert: Which Birth Control Is Best?)