Medical Health Encyclopedia

Disadvantages of the Cervical Cap. The following are disadvantages of the cervical cap.

• Failure rate with any cap is high in women who have given birth (40%). In general, the FemCap has a higher risk for failure than either the diaphragm or the Prentif cap.
• Unlike the diaphragm, the cap cannot be used during menstruation.
• Use of the cervical cap -- particularly the Prentif cap -- poses a higher risk for abnormal cervical cell growth than with the diaphragm.

Female Condom

The female condom (e.g., Reality, Femidom) is a lubricated, loose-fitting pouch that lines the vagina. It is designed to create a physical barrier against sperm and sexually transmitted diseases by surrounding the penis during intercourse. The failure rate for the female condom is about the same as for the diaphragm and cervical cap. It is available without a prescription but may be hard to find.

Use and Insertion of the Female Condom. The female condom is about three inches wide and six to seven inches long (larger than a male condom), with a flexible ring at both ends. Current products are made of polyurethane.

• The ring at the closed end is used to insert the device into the vagina and hold it in place over the cervix.
• The ring at the open end remains outside the vagina and partly covers the labia (lips).

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The insertion process may seem daunting at first but becomes much easier with practice:

• The female condom is inserted by hand into the vagina up to eight hours before intercourse. (It should never be used in combination with a male condom.)
• Although the female condom is prelubricated, extra lubricant is sometimes needed while inserting the device or during intercourse. (It is not made of latex, so oil lubricants will not harm it.)
• During intercourse, the woman checks to be sure that the outer ring is lying flat against her labia and then guides her partner's penis into the ring.