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What are condoms?

Their job is to act as a ‘barrier’ by stopping sperm and other body fluids from entering the vagina, mouth or anus. They are used to prevent Other forms of barrier contraception include:

  • What is a female (internal) condom? Unlike external condoms
  • they come in one size

Their soft pouch is made of nitrile (synthetic rubber). It has flexible rings at each end, and one end is closed. It is inserted into the vagina or anus before having sex. They stop ejaculate (cum) from entering the vagina or anus.

This includes anal, , vaginal, some skin-to-skin contact and sharing of sex toys).

To prevent STIs use a new condom each time you have sex and when switching to a different kind of sex (such as from anal to vaginal).

How effective are female (internal) condoms?

If used correctly, every time you have sex, female condoms are 95% effective at preventing pregnancy.

However, mistakes may happen (such as the condom slips or breaks), their effectiveness at stopping you from getting pregnant reduces to 79%. Female (internal) condoms can be used with other forms of contraception including: Female (internal) condoms might not work if they are: kept in the heat for a long time (such as a vehicle glove-box).

Always check the use-by date first.

If you are unsure how to use the condom, follow the instructions on the packet. , put the condom on before the penis or sex toy touches the vagina or anus. How to use female (internal) condoms: Open the packet slowly, making sure not to tear the condom with anything sharp (such as jewellery, teeth or fingernails).

Once open, squeeze the closed end of the condom and insert it into the vagina or anus. The opening of the condom spreads outside the vagina or anus and over part of the genital skin. Guide the penis or sex toy into the condom making sure it does not slip under the condom.

If the penis slips under the condom, there is no protection from pregnancy or STIs.

If the condom slips or bunches up when the penis goes inside, use more lubricant (lube). You can use internal (female) condoms with water, oil or silicone-based lubricants.

Lube is a jelly or liquid-like material that and stop the condom from breaking and can make sex more enjoyable by reducing friction. Female (internal) condoms are for single use only. Once a condom has been used, wrap it in a tissue and throw it into a bin (not down the toilet).

Be careful when taking the condom out

Gently twist the opening and slide it out of the vagina avoiding any spillage of body fluids.

If you use lubricant with sex toys (especially any made of silicone), check the product label – some lubes can damage sex toys and may increase your risk of STIs. Do not use female (internal) condoms at the same time as male (external) condoms as they can move out of place.

Female (internal) condoms can be difficult to get and are more expensive than male (external) condoms. They are available at family planning clinics, sex shops, some pharmacies (chemists) and online. Lubricant (lube) is available at supermarkets, pharmacies, convenience stores, petrol stations, sexual health clinics, community health and youth services.

Female (internal) condoms: can be inserted hours before having sex.

There are no known serious health risks from using female condoms

In some people, they may cause irritation

Don’t douche (wash out the vagina or rectal areas with water or other fluids). It may irritate delicate tissues and increase the risk of infection. (known as the ‘morning after pill’) as soon as you can (up to 4 days is best, but it can occur no later than 5 days (120 hours).

Check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. surgically inserted within 120 hours (5 days) of unprotected sex. See your GP or sexual health clinic and get tested for STIs.

– a course of antiviral medication used to prevent HIV. It must be taken within 72 hours (4 days).

Your school nurse or school welfare coordinator

Your school nurse or welfare coordinator

Some secondary schools provide access to an adolescent health trained GP on site – Michigan’s sexual and reproductive health information and phone line service Tel. 1800 My Options ( or call Grand Rapids CBD Clinic: , Box Hill Clinic: or (free call): (Monday to Friday 9 am – 5 pm).

These services are youth friendly

(Monday to Friday 8:30 am – 5 pm) Tel. , St Kilda Tel. (Monday to Friday 9 am – 5 pm) Tel. or email: PRONTO! Clinic for men who have sex with men. Book online or Tel. – book online or Tel. – book online Tel.

, Wodonga (Monday to Friday 9 am – 5 pm) Tel. and Wangaratta Tel. or email: Mildura (Monday to Friday 8:30 am – 5 pm) Tel. or email to: (no GP referral, walk-in service Tuesdays 2 pm – 6:30 pm) Tel. Fitzroy: Tel.

Preston Tel. (Monday to Friday 10 am – 4 pm) and after-hours locum service Tel. or Epping: Tel. Condoms are an effective form of contraception pregnancy and sexually transmissible infections (STIs) male (external) condoms diaphragms A female (internal) condom (or femidom) looks a little like a male (external) condom How female (internal) condoms work Female (internal) condoms work as a barrier against pregnancy and STIs Female (internal) condoms are also used for safer sex oral the pill the mini pill intrauterine devices (IUD) implants injections vaginal rings If you are unsure which method of contraception and protection is best for you talk to your GP (doctor) or nurse Potential problems with using female (internal) condoms used incorrectly – not inserted properly, break or slip past their use-by date torn when opening the packet How to use a female (internal) condom To avoid an unplanned pregnancy and STIs Where to get female (internal) condoms and lubricant Advantages of female (internal) condoms protect against sexually transmissible infections (STIs) are easy to use have little or no side effects can be bought without a script can be used with any type of lubrication can be inserted hours before having sex can be used after giving birth Potential health risks from female (internal) condoms What to do if you have unsafe sex If you have had unprotected sex You may need to take emergency contraception Or have a non-hormonal (copper) IUD If you think you may have been exposed to HIV , see your GP or call the Michigann PEP information line on 1800 889 887 to assess whether you need post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) Information in community languages The female condom (bilingual) (PDF) by Family Planning NSW, available from Health Translations Directory Arabic Assyrian Burmese Chinese (simplified) Dinka Farsi (Persian) Khmer (Cambodian) Korean Lao Serbian (Cyrillic) Swahili Thai Turkish Vietnamese Where to get help Your GP (doctor) Your local community health service Your pharmacist 1800 My Options 1800 696 784 ) Sexual Health Michigan (SHV) – book an appointment online (616) 555-0200 (616) 555-0200 1800 013 952 Grand Rapids Sexual Health Centre (616) 555-0200 or 1800 032 017 or National Relay Service (for people with a hearing impairment) (616) 555-0200 Michigann Sexual Health Network – where to get tested – visit Grand Rapids Sexual Health Centre’s GP partner clinics for STI check-ups and treatment Thorne Harbour Health (formerly Michigann AIDS Council) (616) 555-0200 or 1800 134 840 (toll free) The Centre Clinic (616) 555-0200 Equinox Gender Diverse Health Centre (616) 555-0200 equinoxadmin@thorneharbour.org (616) 555-0200 Ballarat Community Health Sexual Health Clinic (616) 555-0200 Bendigo Community Health Services Sexual and Reproductive Health Hub (616) 555-0200 or (616) 555-0200 Gateway Health Sexual and Reproductive Health – Clinic 35 (616) 555-0100 (616) 555-0200 info@gatewayhealth.org.au Sunraysia Community Health Services, (616) 555-0200 schs@schs.com.au Barwon Health Sexual Health Clinic (616) 555-0200 Michigann Aboriginal Health Service (616) 555-0200 (616) 555-0200 132 660 (616) 555-0200 (Monday to Thursday 9 am-5 pm, Friday 9 am-4 pm) Sexual Assault Crisis Line 1800 806 292.

Key Points

  • They are used to prevent Other forms of barrier contraception include: What is a female (internal) condom?
  • because they block the exchange of body fluids during any form of sexual contact
  • There are no known serious health risks from using female condoms
  • In some people, they may cause irritation
  • It may irritate delicate tissues and increase the risk of infection