A female condom, also called an internal condom, is a soft pouch you insert into the vagina before sex. It lines the vaginal canal and covers part of the external genitalia, creating a barrier that prevents pregnancy and reduces STI transmission. With correct use every time, internal condoms are 95% effective at preventing pregnancy. Here’s exactly how to use one, from opening the package to disposal.
What an Internal Condom Looks Like
An internal condom is a loose-fitting sheath made of synthetic material (nitrile, not latex) with two flexible rings. The smaller ring sits at the closed end of the pouch and goes inside your body, where it rests against the cervix and anchors the condom in place. The larger ring stays outside your body, covering the vaginal opening. Because the FC2 Female Condom is made from nitrile rather than natural rubber latex, it’s a reliable option if you or your partner has a latex allergy.
The FC2 is currently the only FDA-approved internal condom available in the United States. You can buy it online, at many Planned Parenthood health centers, family planning clinics, or at drugstores with a prescription.
Step-by-Step Insertion
Check the expiration date on the package before opening it. Tear the wrapper carefully at a corner, avoiding scissors or your teeth, which could nick the condom. You can add extra lubricant to the outside of the closed end to make insertion smoother, though most internal condoms come pre-lubricated.
Find a comfortable position. You can stand with one foot on a chair, sit on the edge of a bed, squat, or lie down, whatever feels easiest. Hold the condom at the closed end with the inner ring visible. Squeeze the sides of the inner ring together between your thumb and forefinger so it narrows into a slim shape, similar to how you’d pinch a menstrual cup.
With the ring squeezed, slide the closed end into your vagina. Then use your index or middle finger to push the inner ring as far up as it will go until it rests against your cervix. The thin outer ring should remain outside your body, lying flat against the skin around the vaginal opening. About an inch of the condom and the outer ring will be visible. Before continuing, run a finger along the inside of the pouch to make sure the condom hasn’t twisted.
During Sex
When your partner enters, you may need to guide the penis into the opening of the condom to make sure it goes inside the pouch rather than alongside it, between the condom and the vaginal wall. This is the most common mistake with internal condoms, and a quick hand check at the start solves it.
Check periodically that the outer ring hasn’t been pushed inside. If it does slip in, stop, remove the condom, and insert a new one. The pouch is designed to move naturally with the body during sex, so some shifting is normal. If you feel the condom bunching or notice friction directly against skin rather than the condom material, pause and reposition it.
Because internal condoms are made of nitrile, you can use any type of lubricant: water-based, silicone-based, or oil-based. This is a notable advantage over latex external condoms, which break down when exposed to oil. Adding lubricant inside the pouch or on the penis can reduce noise and improve sensation.
Removal and Disposal
After sex, gently twist the outer ring a few times. This seals the open end and keeps fluid contained inside the pouch. While holding the twisted ring, slowly pull the condom out. Wrap it in tissue or the original wrapper and throw it in the trash. Do not flush it. Each internal condom is single-use only, and it should never be reused or used at the same time as an external (male) condom, since the friction between two condoms increases the chance of tearing.
How Well Internal Condoms Work
With perfect use, meaning correct insertion and consistent use during every act of sex, internal condoms prevent pregnancy 95% of the time over one year. Typical use, which accounts for occasional mistakes like incorrect placement or not using one every time, brings effectiveness down to about 79%. The gap between perfect and typical use is wider than for external condoms, largely because internal condoms take a bit of practice to insert correctly. Most people find the process intuitive after two or three tries.
For STI protection, internal condoms are at least as effective as external condoms. The outer ring covers a portion of the labia and the base of the penis, providing a larger barrier of protected skin than an external condom does. This extra coverage offers some additional protection against STIs that spread through skin contact, like herpes and HPV.
Practical Tips
One of the biggest advantages of the internal condom is that you can insert it well before sex begins, so it doesn’t interrupt the moment. Some people insert it up to several hours in advance. If you do insert it early, check before sex that the outer ring is still positioned correctly and hasn’t slipped inside.
Internal condoms can also be used for anal sex. The process is similar: remove the inner ring, then insert the pouch into the anus using a finger, leaving the outer ring outside the body. Extra lubricant is important for anal use since the anus doesn’t produce its own lubrication.
If the condom feels noisy during use, adding a drop or two of lubricant inside the pouch usually fixes it. Some people also warm the condom in their hands for a minute before insertion to make the material more flexible and comfortable. Storing internal condoms at room temperature, away from direct sunlight, keeps the material in good condition until the expiration date printed on the package.