Internal (female) condoms: How they works and how to use one

What is a female condom?

The internal condom is a soft pouch usually made of nitrile (a soft plastic material) with two rings on either end. One of these rings is smaller and enclosed in the pouch — it goes inside of your body to secure the condom in place. The other larger ring stays outside your body. 

With this setup, the pouch securely lines the entire internal area while allowing for penetration through the larger ring by fingers, toys, or a penis. The condom prevents pregnancy by blocking sperm cells from reaching an egg cell during vaginal sex, and also helps prevent the spread of STIs from either vaginal or anal sex [1,2].

Who can use internal condoms?

Internal condoms are sometimes called the “female condom” because it’s worn inside the body rather than externally on a penis. However, this gendered language isn’t necessarily accurate — as anyone can wear internal condoms to prevent pregnancy or help protect against the risk of STIs [2].

How do I use a female condom?

To use an internal condom, carefully open the packaging and remove the condom first. Then locate the thicker, inner ring — this will go inside your body. By pinching the sides of this ring with your thumb and index finger, you’ll be able to gently insert it. Then, using your pointer finger, push the inner ring as far up as it will go towards your cervix while keeping the outer ring in place outside the body. The internal ring will naturally expand into place (you may not even feel it!) [2,3]. 

You can insert the internal condom up to eight hours before intercourse. After intercourse, gently twist the outer ring and pull down to remove the condom. The CDC has a few helpful diagrams of this process available here [2,3].

Now that we’ve gone over how female condoms work, let’s go over a few things you’ll want to keep in mind if you decide to use them:

Dos:

• Make sure the condom is not past its expiration date (this should be located on the outside of the packaging)
• Check the condom for any tears or defects before you insert it
• Read the packet insert and follow the instructions
• Keep the condom on during sex from start to finish
• If desired, use a water or silicone-based lubricant to keep the condom from moving and potentially tearing during sex
• Store internal condoms in a cool, dry place [2]

Don’ts:

• Don’t reuse internal condoms — they are single-use only
• Don’t flush used condoms down the toilet, as they may cause clogs
• Don’t use a male (external) condom at the same time as a female (internal) condom — they’re each designed to be used on their own and combining both can lead to tearing [2]

How effective is the female condom?

If you use the internal condom perfectly every single time you have sex, it’s 95% effective at preventing pregnancy. However, with typical use that accounts for real-world user behavior including human errors, they’re actually 79% effective. This means that about 21 out of every 100 people who use female condoms as their primary birth control method will still get pregnant each year [1]. 

You can always use the internal condom in addition to another birth control method like the pill to layer pregnancy prevention (just be sure not to use two condoms at once, as we mentioned earlier).

Do internal condoms help protect against STDs?

Yes — STDs and STIs are typically spread by direct contact with semen, pre-cum, or skin. Since internal condoms line and protect the area of penetration, this decreases your chances of contact, thus helping to protect against STIs. In fact, condoms are the only methods of birth control that help prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections like HIV, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. You can always use condoms for this protection, even if you're already on another type of birth control [1]. 

Just remember that more research is needed to confirm whether or not internal condoms provide the same amount of protection against STIs that external condoms do. The data collected up to now suggests it, but no study has been able to confirm it [4]. 

Pros and cons of female condoms

Let’s go through a few pros and cons of internal condoms to help you make the best decision for your body:

Pros:

• They are an effective non-hormonal birth control method
• Internal condoms are available at some pharmacies or online to purchase without a prescription
• You get both pregnancy prevention and STD protection from this method
• They’re usually latex-free unlike external condoms (if you’re allergic, be sure to check the ingredients on the packaging)
• Internal condoms may provide you with a sense of empowerment — even if your partner doesn’t want to wear a condom, you can stay in control of your sexual health
• If you want to plan pregnancy in the near future, it is easy to just stop using the method when you want to conceive 
• They’re safe to use while breastfeeding [1,5]

Cons:

• They’re typically more expensive than external condoms
• There is a bit of a learning curve with the technique to insert an internal condom when you first start using them, but with time and practice, it becomes easier
• You may find the process of inserting the condom to be a bit disruptive when you’re in the mood — some couples integrate the insertion into foreplay to prevent this
• You may experience irritation or extra friction during sex with an internal condom (using a water or silicone-based lubricant may help)
• You’ll need to use an internal condom every time you have sex
• There are other more effective birth control methods out there, including long-acting methods like IUDs and implants [4,5]

Get to know your body better with Natural Cycles

Birth control comes in many different forms. With all of this in mind regarding internal condoms, along with advice from your healthcare provider, you can make the best choice for your sexual health. If you’re thinking about switching to a hormone-free method, why not consider the first FDA Cleared birth control app? See if Natural Cycles can contribute to your birth control plan today.