Female condom | |
---|---|
![]() Polyurethane 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 in 1990 by Danish physician Lasse Hessel, and approved for sale in the United States by the FDA in 1993.[5] It was developed as an alternative to the older external condom, which is put on the man.