Female condom strange but sexy

Move over Trojan, there's a new condom on the market, it's for women and sales are on the rise.

Reality's self-named female condom, approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1993, is intended to be worn by women during sexual intercourse to help prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. The failure rate, with correct use, stands at 21 percent over a year's time.

The female condom is not 100 percent effective in protecting against the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.

Katie Huang, a health educator at the health center, said that the female condom is not as reliable as traditional latex condoms, which have been proven to be highly effective in preventing unwanted pregnancies and the transmission of many STDs.

According to a study conducted at New York's Harlem Hospital, two-thirds of female condom users liked the contraceptive, 20 percent were neutral and 15 percent said they did not like using it. Seventy-three percent of respondents and 44 percent of their partners preferred the female condom to the male condom.

"The female condom is another alternative to make sex more interesting," Harlen Smith, a senior majoring in geography, said.

Reality is a soft, loose-fitting plastic pouch made out of polyurethane that lines the vagina and has a soft ring at each end. The ring at the closed end is used to insert the device inside the vagina and hold it in place during sexual intercourse. The second ring remains outside the vagina and partly covers the labia majora.

Jason Crandell, a senior majoring in interdisciplinary studies, said the unattractiveness of the female condom doesn't matter during sex.

"It wouldn't bother me," he said.

The polyurethane material warms instantly to body temperature, making the female condom quite sensitive for both partners. According to Huang, men may experience more sexual pleasure because there is no barrier.

"Some women say the outer ring on the condom stimulates the clitoris," Huang said.

Last semester the San Francisco Department of Public Health donated a large amount of female condoms to the health center for promotional purposes.

"Women were misunderstanding the concept, maybe because they thought it looked like a Glad trash bag," Huang said. "We started getting positive feedback once they got over the first reaction."

Because Reality is a fairly new contraceptive, some women feel nervous about insertion. But inserting the female condom is similar to inserting a tampon without an applicator. It can be inserted up to eight hours before sex.

The manufacturers of Reality recommend that women practice inserting the female condom before they use it during intercourse.

"The female condom is flexible and does not stretch," Huang said. "It takes some practice getting it right, just like riding a bike."

Kelly Emershaw-McNulty, a senior majoring in art and music history, said she tried the female condom because it seemed convenient at the time. But she said the cost is more than what it's worth.

"The condom's weird," Emershaw-McNulty said. "You can't take sex seriously with it."

The cost plays an issue in choosing the female condom over the male condom. Students can purchase the female condom at the health center pharmacy, six for $16.50, while Walgreens sells them for $10 for three.

The health center sells more traditional male condoms because they are less expensive, only a dollar for five.

Mary Ellen Massa, a senior majoring in psychology and La Raza studies, said she would be willing to try the female condom if they were less expensive.

Some women have reported problems using the female condom. The outer ring can be pushed inside the vagina during sex and some women reported that the penis slipped to the side of the device on insertion into the vagina. Other problems have included difficulty in inserting Reality, minor irritation, discomfort and breakage. But studies show that Reality rips or tears less than 1 percent of the time.

If the device comes out of the vagina during use, or if the outer ring gets pushed inside, manufacturers suggest using a new Reality. According to the manufacturers, lubrication helps the female condom work. Applying a few drops of a non-petroleum based lubrication, on the penis, or at the condom's opening helps the female condom work better, reducing friction and adding a degree of comfort.

Mark Suarez, a senior majoring in kinesiology, said he wouldn't mind if a woman used the female condom.

"If you find me a woman who would be willing to experiment with me," Suarez said.

According to Huang, females aren't the only ones using the female condom. The condoms have become popular in the gay population.

"The company is starting to market the condoms for gay men under the name 'Aegis,'" Huang said.

[ Golden Gater Online September 10, 1996 ]

[ Top of document ]