Female condom | |
---|---|
Background | |
Type | Barrier |
First use | 1980s |
Failure rates (first year) | |
Perfect use | 5%[1] |
Typical use | 21%[1] |
Usage | |
Reversibility | Immediate |
User reminders | To avoid risk of incorrect use, read the instructions carefully prior to use. |
Advantages and disadvantages | |
STI protection | Yes |
Weight gain | No |
Benefits | No external drugs or clinic visits required |
A female condom (also known as an internal condom) is a barrier device that is used during sexual intercourse as a barrier contraceptive to reduce the probability of pregnancy or sexually transmitted infection (STI). It is inserted in the vagina or anus before intercourse to reduce the risk of exposure to semen or other body fluids.[2][3][4] The female condom was invented by Danish MD Lasse Hessel in 1990 and approved by the FDA for sale in the US in 1993.[5]