Tag Archives: Global Female Condom Day

The Pleasure That Comes With Female Condoms

Contraceptives Reproductive Health 2 Comments

What did you do on September 16?

Did you celebrate Global Female Condom Day?

Don’t tell me you missed it.

September 16 marked Global Female Condom Day. All over the world, HIV activists, policy-makers, and family planning and reproductive health advocates celebrated the day by drawing the world’s attention to the dual protection female condoms provide against HIV and unwanted pregnancy.

It probably comes to no surprise to you that female condoms are not a big seller like their male counterpart – the male condom.  You can’t point to a company that got their financial success from selling the “FC.” Can you?

This may be due to the FC’s big, bulky look and initial difficulty some ladies have in inserting it. We won’t talk about the lubrication that gets all over your hands when you pull the sucker out of the packet or the relatively high price compared to male condoms. Some people tout the fact it’s the only woman-controlled method that provides protection against both HIV and unwanted pregnancy. Definitely a good thing. The FC is good when a man doesn’t want to wear a condom or is too drunk to put one on. But, we all know that if you’re in an abusive relationship and a man doesn’t want to use a condom and you’ve got that “oh-so-discreet” female condom plastic ring hanging out your vagina, he’ll reach right over and snatch it out of you. Am I right? Let’s get real.

Who is kidding who? The female condom is the stepchild of contraceptives.

But… they do provide pleasure.  Did you know that?  FC companies are coming out with these videos that emphasize how pleasurable a female condom can be. (You know your product has a problem when youtube has a million “How to insert a female condom” videos) They take you through all the places you and your partner can experience pleasure using a female condom. SuzyKnew! challenges you to celebrate Global Female Condom Day by trying out the suggestions on this video with your partner.

http://youtu.be/a-lmwROKWKE

Did You Miss Female Condom Day?

Contraceptives No Comments
Inserting a female condom

Did you remember to celebrate Global Female Condom Day on September 12?

If you missed it, you can still join in on the fun.

The Female Condom still isn’t most ladies’ first choice in contraception or HIV prevention. But, it’s nice to know that it’s out there, especially since it is touted as the only female-controlled contraceptive that protects you from HIV/AIDS. You don’t have to wait for your man to put on his condom. You can put your own on.  But, now, the product is also promoted for gay male sex. So, the “FC” – as it’s fondly called – isn’t uniquely female any more.

Years back when I was working with female sex workers in Cambodia I attended a highly coveted class on how to use the Female Condom and teach other women to use it as well. There were 4 classes. So, this tells you something about how user-friendly it is (not).

I never could figure out how to get it inside me. But, don’t let my experience discourage you.

These days, the FC comes in other versions. Like a quieter and more affordable version. Maybe you heard that the original FC makes a lot of noise and is cold when you first insert it.  Your worries are over.  The FC2, as it’s called, isn’t as noisy. It’s made out of nitrile. There are also Indian companies making female condoms out of latex, the material used for male condoms, warming up more quickly to your body temperature.

Youtube has tons of videos on the Female Condom.  Most of them focus on how to use the product. Sigh… Here are two that have gotten a lot of views.

Female Condom

British Female Condom Demonstration