Learning about the new female condom

[sabrinamari]

Dear gods, Awkward Girl just made a very unfortunate appearance at a workshop on cultural considerations around the use of the female condom. It is bad to be a medical anthropologist working with Latinas who could stand to learn more about the female condom. It is worse to discover this on front of a room of very savvy African American and Latina women.

Drat.

****

On the other hand, this female condom (FC2) looks cool!

Things I did not know:

1. It covers a lot more skin and provides much greater protection than the male condom in this way.

2. It can be used for anal sex by taking out the inner ring. This is an off-label use, but it works.

3. It provides clitoral stimulation, and it's thinner than the male condom. It also adheres closely to the vaginal wall and conducts heat better, so it feels much more natural.

4. It can be put in way in advance.

5. You can use ANY LUBRICANT with it!

6. It can also provide additional stimulation for men, because the inner ring feels good to some.

Must check this out!

The workshop providers tell me there's an instructional video here:

www.dcdoinit.com

Haven't seen it yet---will check it out later.

Comments

[jasminewind.livejournal.com]

Unless they've made mysterious strides in development, I'd say the female condom is mostly a marketing tool, of very little use to actual women. Don't worry Awkward Girl, you aren't missing much.

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

I dunno. This may be a good thing.

[marccarlson.livejournal.com]

If it works like they came it does - it's about time.

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

Maybe they have---this is FC2.

[castalusoria.livejournal.com]

I've used them. A couple of their quirks can be a little annoying, but at this point, I prefer them to their, ah, brethren.

[wgseligman.livejournal.com]

Perhaps where you see Awkward Girl the people with whom you work see Human Girl. It can be a good thing when they see that you don't know something that they do; it may them more receptive to you as a person instead of yet another authoritarian figure telling them what to do.

[showingup.livejournal.com]

This is really shrewd.

We all know that we're not seeing ourselves as others see us. Many of us are hypercritical and seeing ineptitude when others are seeing competence and openness. I was referred to recently as "smart, capable, and together" - moments after believing I had demonstrated just how deeply dorktastic I am and begun mentally flagellating myself about it.

Maybe you did come across as a total idiot. Chances are good that you came across as a smart, capable and together woman who didn't have a particular bit of information.

Just a thought.

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

Nope. Not even gonna tell you.

[wgseligman.livejournal.com]

Tell me what?

[shades-of-nyx.livejournal.com]

Tried it. Wasn't impressed. Uncomfortable and awkward.

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

Was told it might take practice. I am going to try over multiple attempts. Will report back.

[the-smith-e.livejournal.com]

It pulls out rather easily.

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info. Will field test over multiple occasions to check myself. : )

[citabria]

They left out "sounds like you're having sex using a sandwich bag." I suspect that that's a result of whatever type of plastic they're using.

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

This was a problem with the first version. There's now a second version made of a different material that doesnt make noise.

[jeneralist.livejournal.com]

I work at a college health clinic a few days a week. We set out bowls of condoms, male & female. The male condoms go quickly. The fc2 doesn't attract much interest.

Which reminds me -- it's chlamydia season in University City; gotta check on our antibiotic supply.

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

I think I understand why. It requires practice and the first version had issues.

But I'm going to check out version 2, because it sounds much better.

[shades-of-nyx.livejournal.com]

Ooh. I haven't tried the second version. Interesting.
I do prefer, however, to let males take some of the responsibility. I use barriers in addition to hormones. I kind of see dealing with the condom issue as their job.

[showingup.livejournal.com]

"Chlamydia season"? OK, I suppose it does make as much sense as flu season, it just took a moment :)