There are two types of female condom: the FC2, made by the Female Health Company, and the VA Feminine by Medtech Products. PATH (The Program For Appropriate Technology) has developed a new prototype, which is now ready for stage 2/3 clinical testing.
FC2 Female Condom
Made of synthetic nitrate or latex, this is a cheaper and quieter material than the original female condom (FC1 – polyurethane). The noise factor was off-putting for some and did not help increase sales. The upgrade with materials means that it is now more cost-effective for distribution in the countries that need it. It looks like a long, baggy sheath and has a ring at either end, to help insertion and removal.
VA (W.O.W) Feminine Condom
This is a shorter condom, made from natural latex, which has a sponge inside rather than a ring. It’s sold under the brand names Reddy, V Amour, and Feminine Condom. It has a v-shaped frame and an inner sponge made of latex to hold it in place inside the vagina.
PATH: The Woman’s Condom
PATH (The Program For Appropriate Technology) has developed a new style Woman’s Condom, which is softer and thinner than existing brands. The inner ring has been replaced with four dots of absorbent foam, which adheres itself to the vagina to stay in place. It has a rounded cap at the end, which dissolves when inserted.
PATH has spent several years researching and testing materials to develop a more user-friendly, affordable condom that women will opt to use rather than have to use. It is now ready for phase 2/3 clinical testing to get FDA approval in the US. So far, user feedback has been positive.
How to Use the Female Condom
The FC2 looks a little scary when you take it out of the packet (like a supersize male condom). I bought a pack of three by Pasante from Boots pharmacy (available online). They are lubricated, which helps with insertion although you may wish to add a few drops of your favourite lubricant if you are putting it in earlier in the day (it can be inserted up to eight hours before sex).
Flatten the ring and insert it completely, pushing it as far back towards the cervix as you can. The outer sheath remains outside the vagina. Do a couple of practice runs as it may take two or three attempts to get the hang of it!
Here are some tips from The Pleasure Project, a sexual health resource site, on how to make the most of the female condom.
The female condom is an alternative form of non-hormonal contraception that has proved to be popular in various countries. In Ghana, men use it for self-pleasure as the inner ring stimulates the penis, and Indian women reported orgasms from using it. Worldwide women have come up with ingenious ways to persuade their men that the female condom is fun and pleasurable to use – from incorporating it into foreplay by letting the men insert it before sex, to erotic rituals involving jewellery and bead accessories to make the experience more sensual.
The condom industry is an innovative one and we now have condoms for erectile dysfunction, and the Rape-Axe condom, which has 'teeth' to act as an anti-rape deterrent. There are condoms in various flavours and materials, and Fairtrade FairDeal French Letter condoms. It will be interesting to see how the Woman’s Condom compares to the existing brands.
Sources:
*"Whatever happened to the Femidom?" by Kate Burt, The Guardian, published 23rd August 2005 (accessed 1st October 2010).
Nicci Talbot - Nicci Talbot is a journalist and author specialising in sex, health & wellbeing. She edits Rude Magazine, an online resource for better ...
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