Internal Condom

What is an internal condom?

An internal condom (or “female” condom) is a pouch that you insert into your vagina or anus to prevent pregnancy and protect agains sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It works by creating a barrier that prevents sperm and bodily fluids from entering your body. Unlike external condoms that are worn on the outside of a penis or on sex toys and accessories, an internal condom is worn on the inside of a vagina or anus.

How does it work?

Internal condoms are made of nitrile, which is a thin, soft plastic material. It has a flexible ring on each end. When inserting the condom, squeeze the inner ring (closed end) and slide it into your vagina or anus as far as it will go. If you’re using it for anal sex, you can also place the internal condom around a penis or sex toy.

The outer ring stays outside your vagina or anus. You may want to check periodically that the outer ring hasn’t slipped inside. This outer ring protects the skin around your vagina and anus from contact, reducing your risk of getting an STI.

There’s lubricant on both sides of the condom to make it more comfortable to insert. Make sure the condom doesn’t become twisted when you insert it.

Immediately after sex, twist the outer ring and gently pull the condom out.

You can insert an internal condom right before you have sex or up to eight hours before. They come in one size — the length is similar to an external condom, but slightly wider.

What does an internal condom feel like?

An internal condom may feel like other barrier birth control methods that go inside your body, like a cervical cap or diaphragm. It can initially feel like something is “stuck” in your body, but the feeling should go away. While they come lubricated, it might be helpful to use more silicone- or water-based lubricant when you insert one. This can make it more comfortable.

How many times can you use an internal condom?

They are meant for one-time use. This means you need to throw it away right after you have sex or if the condom breaks. If you have sex again or switch to a different type of sex (like from vaginal to anal), use a new one. Reusing a condom increases the odds that they’ll leak, break or slip in.

Where do you get internal condoms?

You can purchase internal condoms at some online retailers or directly from the manufacturer’s website. The only internal condom approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S. is the FC2® Internal Condom.

How effective is an internal condom?

Internal condoms are 79% effective in preventing pregnancy with “typical use,” or how most people use them. This rate is mostly due to people not using them properly and consistently. If you use it correctly every single time you have sex, the effectiveness can be as high as 95%.

This means internal condoms are slightly less effective than regular condoms, and a lot less effective than many other types of birth control in preventing pregnancy.

You can also use an internal condom with another form of birth control (like an IUD or pill) to further reduce your chances of becoming pregnant. But don’t use internal and external condoms at the same time because they can stick together and tear.

How long does it stay in?

Keep an internal condom in the entire time you have sex. It might move around during sex. This is OK as long as the condom doesn’t slip out of your vagina or anus. If you have a partner with a penis and they slip out of the condom, you may increase your risk for pregnancy or STIs if body fluids are exchanged or if your partner has an STI and there’s skin-to-skin contact.

The condom may make sex a little noisier. Adding lubricant might help with this. Do not use oil-based lubrication, though, as it can damage the condom.

What are the advantages of internal condoms?

The pros of internal condoms are:

• Contraception: They prevent sperm from reaching an egg, which protects against pregnancy. A sperm must reach an egg to create a pregnancy.
• Protection from STIs: They cover the inside of your vagina, parts of your vulva and the skin around your anus. This means you’re less likely to pick up an infection from bodily fluids or skin-to-skin contact.
• No prescription necessary: You can buy them on your own without a prescription.
• Not permanent: Unlike some birth control methods, condoms are single-use and don’t have a lasting impact. You don’t have to take hormones or worry about side effects when you stop using condoms.

What are the disadvantages?

Some of the drawbacks of an internal condom are the same as those for an external condom — for example, the condom might break or tear. Pay attention to the expiration date on the package, too, and be sure to open the wrapper and insert the condom carefully so you don’t accidentally rip it.

Other cons to internal condoms include:

• Availability: Internal condoms are harder to get and slightly more expensive than regular condoms.
• Discomfort: Some people using internal condoms experience irritation and discomfort, either due to an allergic reaction or an improper fit.
• Distraction: They aren’t great for spontaneity or when sex is unplanned (unless you insert it several hours before). Others say it can be noisy during sex.