Trojan Condoms

The Female Condom (FC) is one of the three FDA approved products (male latex condoms, male polyurethane condoms and the FC) of its type that protect against unintended pregnancies and work to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS through sexual intercourse - the only one that is controlled by the woman.

The FC is a thin pouch worn by women during intercourse. Invented by a Danish physician, it has been available in Europe since 1992 and was approved by the FDA in 1993. It is a polyurethane pouch with a flexible ring at each end (one end is closed). The flexible ring at the closed end is inserted into the vagina and helps keep the condom in place. The ring at the open end stays outside the vulva and is used to guide the penis during penetration. The inside of the condom is lubricated. The Female condom physically blocks ejaculated semen from entering the body although it does not have spermicide.

FC2 Female Condom
This new version was announced in 2005 by the makers of the original Female Condom. It has the same design, but is made of nitrile (which may be cheaper to produce). Large scale production of the FC2 began in 2007. A third version of Female Condom is the VA Condom Feminine, made of latex. It is much shorter than the FC (3.5”) but very elastic. A rounded triangular form at the open end and a sponge inside the closed end help fix it inside the vagina. It too is lubricated, but contains no spermicide.

VA Condom Feminine

The VA Condom Feminine has gained the “CE Mark” for European marketing, but is not yet approved by the FDA.

How do Female Condoms Work?
The condom covers the inside of the vagina, and a man’s ejaculate is collected inside the sheath or pouch, keeping the sperm out of the vagina. Pregnancy cannot happen if sperm don’t join with an egg. By keeping the semen and pre-ejaculatory out of the vagina (or anus), the Female Condom also prevents STDs.

Safety of Female Condoms
Female Condoms are as safe as tampons – any woman who can use a tampon can also safely use a FC. Although some people use Female Condoms for anal sex, this can be painful and could cause rectal bleeding. It is better to use lubricated male condoms (the lubricant should not be Nonoxynol 9). Trojan condoms offer a wide variety of lubricated condoms. Female condoms can also be safely used to prevent the spread of STIs during oral sex – although this involves a very awkward process of cutting the sheath and placing it over the man’s genitals or mouth. Again, go with the old Trojan condom.

Effectiveness of the Female Condom
Used correctly and consistently, female condoms are 95% effective as a contraceptive method. The effectiveness of female condoms as a means of contraception drops to 79% when used imperfectly (perfect use almost never occurs). Its effectiveness is in the same range as other barrier methods of contraception (the diaphragm, the cervical cap, the male condom and the sponge).

Because it is a relatively recent product, the effectiveness of the female condom for preventing STIs has not been studied as widely as its contraceptive effectiveness. So, although it is widely claimed to be an effective barrier against STDs, there is little published data to prove (or disprove) this claim. Nevertheless, small-scale studies have shown FCs to be at least as effective as male condoms in preventing the spread of Gonorrhea, Trichomoniasis and Chlamydia, for example. Some estimates suggest that with correct and persistent use, the female condom would result in a 97.1% reduction in the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS for each act of intercourse.

How Female Condoms Are Used
Female condoms are only effective if inserted before sexual intercourse. They can be placed up to eight hours prior to intercourse, and should never be used at the same time as a male condom since the friction could easily cause the condoms to break.

1. Wash your hands first, then open the package carefully, and do NOT use scissors.

2. If you are using an FC or an FC2 Female Condom, hold the pouch with the open end (where the outer ring is) hanging down. The inner ring is at the closed end.

Grasp the flexible inner ring and squeeze it so that it becomes long and narrow.

3. Find a comfortable position (lie down with knees bent and legs apart, raise one leg or squat with knees apart), and gently insert the inner ring inside your vaginal opening.

4. Place your index finger inside the condom and push the inner ring as far as it will go. This may take some time because the condom is lubricated and slippery. Be patient, and make sure the condom is not twisted. The outside ring of the female condom should be outside your body.

5. The female condom is now in place and ready for used, with your partner.

6. Now guide the man’s penis into the female condom so that it doesn’t enter the vagina during intercourse. Be sure that the penis is not entering between the condom and the vaginal wall. Use enough lubricant to ensure that the female condom stays in place during sex.

7. To remove the condom after sex, squeeze and twist the outer ring gently to keep the sperm inside the pouch. Gently pull the female condom out.

8. Wrap the condom in its package or in tissue and throw it away – do not flush it.

The FC does not need to be removed immediately after intercourse like a male condom, but it should be removed before the woman stands, to avoid sperm spilling out.

Benefits and Disadvantages
For many women, the process described above is, to say the least, difficult to get used to. That is one of the main disadvantages of the female condom. Other disadvantages are:

• Does not contain spermicide

• The outer ring is visible outside the vagina, making some women feel self-conscious

• The FC and FC2 condoms can make noise during intercourse (adding extra lubricant can help resolve this issue)

• Like all condoms, it can break or leak

• Higher failure rate in preventing pregnancy than non-barrier methods

• Female condoms may cause irritation of the vagina, vulva, penis or anus

• They may slip into the vagina (or anus) during intercourse

• Cost – about three times more expensive than male condoms

Now consider the benefits of Female Condoms:

• Prevent the spread of STDs, including HIV/AIDS, if used correctly (because they cover more skin, female condoms are better than male condoms at preventing some skin-to-skin contracted STIs such as Herpes)

• A woman may be able to use a female condom if her partner refuses to use a male condom

• Protection against unintended pregnancies

• Doesn’t reduce a partner’s stimulation (polyurethane and nitrile are thin and conduct heat well, preserving sensation)

• Doesn’t require a prescription

• No hormonal side effects

• Doesn’t affect future fertility

• Erection isn’t necessary to put the condom in place

• Can be inserted up to 8 hours before intercourse so as not to interfere with the moment

• Can be used by people with latex sensitivities.

• Female condoms are pre-lubricated, and polyurethane and nitrile can be used with both oil-based and water-based lubricants.

• No special storage requirements are needed (temperature changes don’t affect the condom).

• Insertion could be part of sex play

• Female condom use is initiated by women, provides an additional option to male condoms, and gives women more control over their reproductive health.

Who Can Use Female Condom?

• People who want to protect themselves, or their partners against STDs and unwanted pregnancies

• People whose partners can’t or won’t use latex condoms

• People who are HIV+ or have HIV+ partners

• Women who are menstruating

Cost and Availability
The female condom is used in public health programs in more than 90 countries, and is sold directly to consumers in about ten countries, including the United States where female condoms can be bought over the counter in drugstores and supermarkets, or on the internet. FCs come in only one size and cost between $2.50 and $5 per condom. Female Condom use is estimated at between 0.2% and 0.5% of global condom use.

Three obstacles hinder the widespread use of the female condom: insufficient research on its effectiveness in preventing STIs; male involvement (you cannot use it without your partner’s knowledge) and its cost (in many developing countries the high cost has lead women to re-use the polyurethane FC).