The female condom is a thin, lubricated polyurethane pouch that fits inside the vagina and partly covers the vulva. The female condom prevents sperm from meeting and fertilizing an egg.

The condom is a pouch with a flexible, soft ring on each end; one end fits inside the vagina to keep the female condom in place and the other end stays outside the vagina.

• You can insert a female condom up to eight hours before you have sex.

• Squeeze the inner ring of the condom. Put the inner ring and pouch inside the vagina.

• After sex, twist the outer ring and carefully remove the condom.

• Use a new female condom each time you have sex.

• Don’t use a female and male condom at the same time, as this may cause both condoms to break or tear.

• Be sure to use lubricant with the female condom to keep it from making noise during sex.

Of 100 women who use this method each year, about 21 may get pregnant.

• Female condoms are available over the counter.

• Female condoms are safe and effective to use.

• You may insert female condoms up to eight hours before having sex.

• Female condoms are a good choice if you do not use a male condom.

• Female condoms may provide some protection against sexually transmitted

• infections (STIs) during vaginal sex.

• It isn’t known exactly how well female condoms may protect against STIs.

• Some people experience irritation or allergic reactions with female condoms.

• Female condoms are usually more expensive than male condoms.

• Female condoms have not been officially approved for anal sex.

No, but it does require practice and patience.

Yes. Female condoms offer dual protection, against both pregnancy and STIs, including HIV, if used consistently and correctly. Many people, however, do not use condoms every time they have sex, or do not use them correctly. This reduces protection from both pregnancy and STIs.

No. Male and female condoms should not be used together. This can cause friction that may lead to slipping or tearing of the condoms.

To avoid incorrect use, the man or the woman should carefully guide his penis and place the tip inside the outer ring of the condom. If the penis goes between the wall of the vagina and the condom, the man should withdraw and try again.

Reuse of the female condom is not recommended. Reuse of currently available female condoms has not been sufficiently tested.

Women can use the female condom during their monthly bleeding. The female condom cannot be used at the same time as a tampon, however. The tampon must be removed before inserting a female condom.

No. Female condoms are the same length as male condoms, but wider. They are very flexible and fit to the shape of the vagina. Female condoms have been carefully designed and tested to fit any woman, whatever the size of her vagina, and any man, whatever the size of his penis.

No. The female condom remains in a woman’s vagina until she takes it out. It cannot go past a woman’s cervix and into the womb (uterus) because it is too large for that.

Yes. The female condom can be used in any sexual position.