Women Gain Control of Their Future: The Female Condom

The female condom, developed in the 1990's in Europe, was designed to allow women who have non-compliant partners to protect themselves from sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy. No longer will have men be solely responsible for the outcomes of our future. For years the only other ways to protect ones self as women was to 1. abstain from sex entirely 2. use birth control which only protects from pregnancy, not STD transmission or 3. carry condoms in our purse in hopes that what ever partner we choose will be obedient and wear the sheath for their own as well as our protection. In any event, the responsibility of preventing STD transmission lied solely with the male. This is no longer the case.

For years proper condom etiquette has been taught in sex education classes across the United States. Proper usage and positioning have been practiced on many a banana by both women and men alike. But these techniques rely on the male partner's compliance. There has been many a young women who I have spoken to that told me they couldn't use birth control because of the side effects and that their partner refused to wear a condom. In some situations declining sexual intercourse is not an option so these women were at the mercy of their male partners. Often these women become pregnant with an unwanted or unplanned child and/or contract an STD unknowingly.

The beauty of the female condom is that women can be prepared for a sexual encounter as soon as 6 hours prior to the event. Though the condom can be seen from the outside, spontaneity can once again be reclaimed without a discussion and fumbling of the traditional condom wrapper. Some complain that the female condom is difficult to install and remove. This problem can be resolved by simple practice. Practice was needed to become efficient with male condom positioning and removal so the same can be thought true of the female condom.

With the female condom, male condoms are obsolete as they can cause tearing of the female condom. Proper lubrication will be necessary to prevent slippage but oil based lubricants can be used without compromising the integrity of the female condom.

One additional piece of advice is necessary for the successful use of the female condom. The penis should be guided into the sheath to ensure proper positioning. Without guidance the penis may stray and find itself on the skin side of the female condom, thus making the protection ineffective.

I was thrilled to see that manufacturers finally provided women with a viable means of self protection. Gone should be the days of local clinic complaints of STD and unwanted pregnancies due to male non-compliance. Women-I urge you; take your destiny into your own hands and always be prepared to protect yourself with the your own female condom.