Thin sheaths of transparent, soft plastic (polyurethane)
which are 15 cm long and 7 cm wide; they have reinforced rings at both ends. (They are
placed in the vagina before sex.)
Mechanisms of Action
- prevent sperm from gaining access to the female
reproductive tract
- prevent microorganisms (STDs, including HBV and HIV/AIDS)
from passing from one partner to another
Benefits
Contraceptive
- Effective immediately
- Do not affect breastfeeding
- Do not interfere with intercourse (may be inserted up to 8
hours before)
- Can be used as backup to other methods
- No method-related health risks
- No systemic side effects
- No prescription or medical assessment necessary
- Controlled by the woman
Noncontraceptive
- May provide protection against GTIs and other STDs
- May help prevent cervical cancer
Limitations
- Expensive (at this time)
- Moderately effective (5-21 pregnancies per 100 women during
the first year)
- Effectiveness as a contraceptive depends on willingness to
follow instructions
- User-dependent (requires continued motivation and use with
each act of intercourse)
- Disposal of used condoms may be a problem
- Adequate storage must be available at the client's home
- Supplies must be readily available before intercourse
begins
- Resupply must be available
Who Can Use
Female Condoms
- Women who prefer not to use hormonal methods or cannot use
them (e.g., smokers over 35 years of age)
- Women who prefer not to use IUDs
- Women who are breastfeeding and need contraception
- Women wanting protection from STDs and whose partners will
not use condoms
- Couples who need contraception immediately
- Couples needing a temporary method while awaiting another
method
- Couples needing a backup method
- Couples who have intercourse infrequently
- Couples in which either partner has more than one sexual
partner (at high risk for STDs, including HBV and HIV/AIDS), even if using another method
Who Should Not
Use Female Condoms
- Women whose age, parity or health problems make pregnancy
high-risk
- Women with physical disabilities or who find it unpleasant
to touch their genitals (vulva or vagina)
- Women with uterine prolapse (uterus protruding into the
vagina)
- Women with severe cystocele or rectocele (bulging of the
walls of the bladder or rectum into the vagina)
- Women with vaginal stenosis (narrowing of the vaginal
canal)
- Women with genital anomalies
- Couples in which pregnancy would pose a serious health risk
to the woman
- Couples who are allergic to polyurethane
- Couples who need a highly effective method of contraception
- Couples who want long-term contraceptive methods
- Couples who want methods not related to intercourse
- Couples not willing to use correctly and consistently with
each act of intercourse
Client
Instructions
- Use a condom every time you have intercourse.
- The female condom can be inserted up to 8 hours before
intercourse.
- Wash hands with soap and water.
- Remove the condom from the package. Do not use
teeth, knife, scissors or other sharp utensils to open package.
- Hold the condom with the open end down.
- Use the thumb and middle finger to squeeze the flexible
ring at the closed end into a narrow oval.
- With your other hand, spread the lips of your vagina.
- Insert the ring and sheath into the vagina.
- Use your index finger to push the ring as far as possible
into the vagina.
- Insert a finger into the condom until it touches the bottom
of the ring.
- Push the ring up past the pubic bone.
- Make sure the outer ring and part of the sheath are outside
the vagina over the vulva,
- Take care to be sure the penis enters the sheath and stays
within the sheath during intercourse.
- Do not use the female condom with a male condom.
- After withdrawal, twist the outer ring and gently pull out
the condom. Remove the condom before you stand up.
- Each condom should be used only once.
- Dispose of the condom by placing in a waste container, in
the latrine or burying. Do not flush the condom down the toilet.
Who Can Provide
- Physicians
- Nurses, Midwives, Paramedics
- Community-based Workers
- Pharmacists and Shopkeepers
Where They
Can Be Provided
- Hospitals
- Clinics
- Health Posts
- Private Offices
- Community-based Distribution Programs
- Pharmacies and Shops
 
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