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Psychosocial Influences on Sexual Health
Published in Naomi M. Hall, Sexual Health and Black College Students, 2022
While there are male and female condoms, the use of female condoms as a protective barrier is relatively low among young people and not discussed in detail here. Some of the advantages of female condoms are that they are less likely than male condoms to break or tear, it is larger and can cover more area to prevent more infections, it is not made of latex (for those who have latex sensitivity or allergies) and can be inserted prior to sexual activity to not interrupt spontaneity. The disadvantages include cost (they are more expensive), they are not thought to be as effective as male condoms in preventing STIs, including HIV, and there is only one FDA-approved brand in the United States (Yarber & Sayad, 2018). Despite these problems, the female condom is an option that should be considered when discussing sexual activity and protective barrier methods with college students.
Female barrier methods
Published in Suzanne Everett, Handbook of Contraception and Sexual Health, 2020
The female condom is made of lubricated polyurethane. It is 170 mm in length and has an outer ring and an inner ring. The inner ring, which is situated at the closed end of the condom, is used to aid insertion. The outer ring is situated at the open end of the condom and lies flat against the vulva. The female condom prevents sperm from entering the vagina by acting as a barrier.
Adolescent contraception
Published in Joseph S. Sanfilippo, Eduardo Lara-Torre, Veronica Gomez-Lobo, Sanfilippo's Textbook of Pediatric and Adolescent GynecologySecond Edition, 2019
Hanna Goldberg, Jasmine Multani, Sari Kives
The female condom is a female-initiated method of both contraception and STI prevention. The female condom is a single-use polyurethane sheath, 78 mm wide and 170 mm long, with a ring at either end. It is prelubricated on the inside with a spermicidal lubricant, and one ring is placed in the vagina before intercourse and the other open ring sits outside the vagina to allow for intercourse. It can be placed in the vagina up to 8 hours before intercourse.178 It has been shown to reduce rates of STI transmission in women whose partners refuse to use a male condom.16 The female condom can be placed autonomously and is safe to use for those with a latex sensitivity.190 It should not, however, be used in conjunction with a male condom, as the two can adhere to each other and become displaced.178 While clinical evidence is limited, the polyurethane sheath as well as the small amount of protection provided over the perineum should provide STI protection similar to that observed with the male condom. The 12-month pregnancy rate for perfect use is 5% and typical use is 21%.53 Slippage is a problem noted specifically with the female condom, and cost can be prohibitive to its use.178 There are no absolute contraindications to the female condom, but relative contraindications include nitrile polymer allergy or abnormal vaginal anatomy that may pose difficulty with satisfactory placement.188
The Condom Fairy program: A novel mail-order service for condoms and sexual health supplies
Published in Journal of American College Health, 2019
Scott M. Butler, Katharine Mooney, Katy Janousek
Eighty-one participants (11.1%) ordered female condoms through the program including 77 first-time female condom users. Among these, the majority (84.0%) reviewed the additional sources and instructions regarding the proper use of female condoms. Nearly one-quarter (24.7%) had used one or more of female condoms in the last 30 days and 59.3% reported they plan to use them in the future. The majority (65.0%) reported they were confident in their ability to use female condoms. There were no statistical gender differences among the participants who ordered female condoms or who used them in the past 30 days (p > .05). More than half of female condom users reported they were satisfied with female condoms in terms of the instructions (75.0%), ease of use (55.0%), pleasure and sensation (65.0%), protection from STIs (90.0%), protection from unintended pregnancy (80.0%), and design/appearance (50.0%). Additional data regarding condom and safer sex product use can be found in Table 3.
HIV/STI interventions targeting women who experience forced sex: A systematic review of global literature
Published in Health Care for Women International, 2018
Michelle E. Deming, Amir Bhochhibhoya, LaDrea Ingram, Crystal Stafford, Xiaoming Li
The efficacy and cost-effectiveness of these female-controlled methods are dependent upon a number of factors associated with women's adherence: Are they accessible, acceptable, and practical methods to reduce women's risk of HIV/STI infection? (French et al., 2003; Mack et al., 2014; MacQueen et al., 2014). While male condoms are extremely effective at preventing HIV infection, male condom use is often inconsistent (Jones et al., 2014). In a study assessing male-condoms versus female-condoms efficacy in heterosexual relationships, researchers found that the female condom was just as effective at preventing sexually transmitted infections (French et al., 2003).
Contraceptive and Barrier Use by Sexual- and Gender-Minoritized Individuals Assigned Female at Birth in Urban India
Published in Women's Reproductive Health, 2020
Megan Simmons, Jessamyn Bowling, Brian Dodge, Vikram Sundarraman, Brindaa Lakshmi, Debby Herbenick
A lot of the stuff that you keep getting recommended on websites and by medical professionals is just not easily accessible. You don’t get dental dams easily. I know of maybe one store in all of Kolkata that has a female condom. Most of them are like, ‘What? What are you even asking for?’ …so it becomes so much more difficult…when we started the [kink] group in Pune, we had these conversations and we were trying to keep each other safe and you know, learn new ways and so on. And we finally said, ‘You know what? Cling wrap. Just simplify, that’s something every kitchen has.’