The female condom is among the safest birth control options available to women because it doesn’t have any health side affects. Just like the male condom, its use needs to be planned in.

The female condom has a flexible ring at both ends. The smaller ring is inserted to the vagina before sexual intercourse. The outer ring holds the female condom in place. It can also be used for anal intercourse. It works by preventing the sperm from reaching the uterus and then beginning its journey up the fallopian tubes and fertilizing the egg.

Used correctly, the female condom is 95% effective in preventing pregnancy, the over all effectiveness, which takes into account not all women use the condom correctly, is 79%. Effectiveness can depend on how serious the couple is about not getting pregnant. Using spermicide or combining the female condom with other forms of birth control will increase the effectiveness.

It is an easy to get birth control and doesn’t require a doctor’s prescription or medical examination. In addition the female condom has the following benefits:

•    Can be used by women who are allergic to latex
•    Both oil-based and water-based lubricants can be used
•    Either the woman can insert it herself or have her partner
•    The external ring may add to pleasure because it may stimulate the clitoris
•    Its use is not dependent on a partner’s erection
•    Reduces the risk of infection of sexually transmitted diseases

There are a few drawbacks with the female condom. For the couple who likes spontaneity, the female condom may not be the best choice because it does need to be inserted prior to each session of intercourse. For some women, depending on the fit, the female condom can be noisy. This can be remedied with lubricant, though. Like with a male condom, there is some reduction in feeling for the user. Some women may experience irritation from the condom. The female condom may slip into the vagina or anus during sex, though it is uncommon.

When removing the female it is twisted to close the open end to avoid sperm being spilled, it is then removed, and discarded in a trash reciprocal. It cannot be flushed down a toilet.

For women who don’t mind planning in the insertion of a female condom, it is a safe and inexpensive birth control option.