Inserting the Female Condom

Before you try to insert the condom, read the section on female

THE FEMALE CONDOM

39 anatomy in Chapter 1 and familiarize yourself with your vagina and the location of your pubic bone and cervix. You will be much more relaxed about using any barrier contraceptive—and about sex—if you are acquainted with your own body.

Although the directions for inserting this condom are lengthy because they cover every detail, after a little practice you will find that insertion is quite simple and quick (Figure 3.2). If you have difficulty with it, take a break, relax, and re-read the directions given here or those that come with the package before you try again.

Being relaxed and willing to experiment will make the process much easier.

• The closed end of the female condom is designed to fit over the cervix, and the open end stays on the outside of your body.

• The condom can be inserted anytime up to 8 hours before having sex.

• If you are not familiar with your vagina, check it out before you try inserting the condom. Use your middle finger to find your cervix at the upper end. It feels somewhat like the end of your nose, and it is about 3 inches from the vagina’s opening. The vagina itself is not very long.

• To be sure the lubrication is spread evenly on the inside of the long pouch, from bottom to top, rub the outside of the condom gently. The lubricant is designed to make the inside of the condom feel similar to the naturally lubricated vagina. If the penis does not slip in and out easily during use, you can add more lubricant from the extra supply in the package.

• Before you try inserting the female condom, find a comfort- able position. You can sit on the edge of a chair with your knees apart, or sit on the toilet, or lie down.

• Be sure the inside ring is down at the closed end of the tube.

The inside ring is a bit smaller and thicker than the outside ring.

• To make it easier to insert the condom, add a drop or two of extra lubricant to the outside of the closed end of the pouch. Too much lubricant, however, may make it hard to grasp the ring firmly.

• Hold the pouch by the inside ring, with the open end hanging

down. Squeeze the sides of the inner ring together to make it narrow

FIGURE 3.2 How to Insert a Female Condom A

B

C

Open end

Index finger

Inner ring

Pubic bone

THE FEMALE CONDOM

41 enough to go into your vagina. It may be easier if you squeeze it between your thumb and middle finger, with your index finger on top of the ring to help hold it steady. Be careful not to tear the condom with your fingernails or rings.

• Use your other hand to spread the outer and inner lips of your vagina and then insert the squeezed inner ring. If it slips from your fingers, let it go and start over. The condom is well lubricated, which can make it a little difficult to manage. If your vagina feels a little dry, however, you may need to add some more lubricant to the condom or to the entrance of your vagina.

• Push the inner ring and the pouch all the way up into your vagina as far as it will go. (Vaginas are about 2 1/2 to 4 inches long.) The easiest guide for doing this is to follow the lower or back wall of the vagina with the folded ring until it stops. This will help the leading edge of the ring to go under and past the cervix and touch the back wall of your vagina where it joins the cervix. The end of the folded ring closest to the vaginal opening should then be just past your pubic bone. You can feel your pubic bone—it is barely a finger’s length inside the vagina. Push the ring up behind the pubic bone, which will help hold it in place. (See Chapter 1 for more information about your anatomy.)

• When the condom is in place, it covers your cervix and you should be able to feel the cervix through it. If the condom is not comfortable, it may not be correctly positioned. Remove it (twist the outer ring and gently pull) and try again. It takes a little practice to get it in place behind the pubic bone and over the cervix. Aim the leading edge a little lower so it does not hit the cervix instead of the back wall of the vagina. When you think you have the condom in place, you can check it with your finger to make sure it is over the cervix.

• About 1 inch of the open end of the condom will remain outside your vagina. While this may look unusual, it is this extra material that protects your genital area and the upper part of your partner’s penis.

• Use a fresh condom for each intercourse, because the used one

may have been torn or contaminated with body fluids. Do not use a

Reality and a male condom at the same time. They will stick to each other and will not stay in place.

• When you are ready to have sex, make sure the outside ring is lying flat against the outer lips of your vagina. As the penis begins to enter, guide it into the ring. If this entry is not easy, ask your partner to withdraw for a second while you add more lubricant either to his penis or to the inside of the condom. If you do not have Reality lubricant, you can use any gel or oil—polyurethane condoms are not damaged by oils.

• It is normal for the female condom to move around during sex and for the outer ring to move from side to side. It is even okay if it rides up on the penis—this does not reduce your protection because the penis is still covered and the semen stays inside the pouch.

• If you begin to feel the outer ring being pushed into the vagina

or if the penis starts to enter underneath or next to the condom

instead of into it, stop. You or your partner may need to add extra

lubrication to the opening of the pouch and make sure the outer ring

is lying flat over the lips of the vagina—this will make it easier for

the penis to slide into the condom. The Reality should not bunch up

if there is enough lubricant in it. It helps if you make sure the outer

ring is lying flat while you guide the penis into it.