CONDOMS: CHOOSE WISELY

The author of the following article has never seen a female condom in one of the local drug stores. In doing research for this article, the author learned why that has been the case. The author found that she might be able to find a female condom in a shop that is currently walking distance from her home. That is a shop that features lots of adult toys. It seems strangely out of place in its present location. The author assumes that men and women from the surrounding area go to that shop whenever they feel a strong “Touch of Romance.”

A woman can plan to enjoy the pleasures of intercourse and still protect herself from a possible HIV infection, if she uses a female condom. That thin, loose-fitting plastic tube fits inside a woman’s vagina. While in that position it exhibits great flexibility, and it does a good job of keeping both sperm and infectious agents out of the woman’s reproductive system.

The female condom contains one open end and one closed end. The soft ring at the closed end of the female condom covers the cervix. That closed end stays inside the vagina. The open end of the condom, a condom which has been designed for use by a female, can not be hidden from view during intercourse. That open end remains outside of the woman’s vagina.

Although considered to be an “adult toy,” the female condom has been shown to be highly effective. About 79% to 95% of women who have used a female condom have not reported an unwanted pregnancy or an unexpected sexually transmitted disease (STD). The female condom has been grouped with the adult toys, because a sexually aroused couple can make insertion of the condom a part of their sex play.

That is one of the advantages offered by the female condom. Other advantages of condom use by the female include the following: the condom prevents STDs; the condom protects the vagina and vulva; the condom does not decrease the amount of stimulation received by the male partner; the condom can be obtained without a prescription; the condom does not expose a woman to unnatural hormone levels; the use of a condom does not affect a woman’s future fertility.

A woman who is allergic to latex should note that the female condom contains no latex. That fact is an added point in favor of use of the female condom. A woman worried about the need for a lubricant during the insertion process should know this: the female condom is prelubricated.

While the advantages of using a female condom definitely outweigh the disadvantages, there are facts to consider before buying such a condom. As noted above, a female condom can not be hidden from view during intercourse. Moreover, the female condom can be difficult to insert; and it does not come with a spermicide.

Two other features associated with the female condom detract from its many advantages.  The condom can break easily, allowing sperm or infectious particles to leak into the woman’s reproductive tract. The female condom is also three times more expensive that a male condom.

Because women often desire plastic surgery, it should be noted that two types of plastic surgery could impact the suitability of a female condom. A woman who has received a vaginal rejuvenation might want to ask her physician if and when she could use a female condom. A woman who has benefited from a vaginal tightening should ask her doctor whether or not she should seek the benefits of a female condom.