What Are Receptive Condoms?
Receptive condoms, also known as female condoms, are a barrier method used by the receptive partner during sex. They can be used to prevent both pregnancy during male-female intercourse and the spread of STIs between partners during anal or vaginal intercourse.
How do you use a Receptive Condom?
Receptive condoms are inserted into the vagina or the anus of the receptive partner during intercourse. It is important to know how to properly use receptive condoms, because not properly using them can lead to failure, increasing the chances of unplanned pregnancy or the spread of STIs.
There are three steps to follow before opening a condom:
- Wash your hands.
- Check the expiration date.
- Feel for the air bubble in the package to ensure the condom isn’t compromised.
Once this is complete the receptive condom can be inserted into the vagina or anus. Receptive condoms include a ring on the inside for vaginal use. This holds the condom in place against the cervix. To insert into the vagina, twist the ring into a figure-eight and begin feeding it into the vagina. Once inserted, there will be material left outside of the vagina, covering the vulva. To use anally, the ring should be removed. After this, the condom can be inserted into the anus using a finger or two to feed it in. Some material will remain outside the anus covering the area around it.
There are some things to consider when using a receptive condom. One is that you should “shoot for the hoop.” Make sure the penetrative object is being inserted into the opening of the condom. If it goes outside the opening of the condom, that defeats the purpose of using a barrier method in the first place. Also, if the condom is being used anally, but also vaginally, make sure it is not being pushed to far into the anus or vagina to the point at which it either needs to be fished out or fluids are able to escape the condom.
Once you’re done, the condom can be removed by twisting the material left outside the vagina or the anus so that fluids inside the condom cannot escape, after which is can be slowly pulled out and thrown away. Receptive condoms are one-time use only and should be thrown in the garbage. They will clog a toilet.
Also, remember not to double bag: the increased friction between two condoms, even between an insertive and receptive condom, can increase the chance of breakage.
How Effective are Insertive Condoms at preventing Pregnancy and STI Transmission?
A receptive condom, when used properly, is 95% effective at preventing pregnancy or fluid-spread STIs such as chlamydia or HIV. However, they will be less effective at preventing contact-spread STIs such as HPV or herpes. Usually, then they are only about 70% percent effective, but in theory they will be slightly more effective at preventing contact-spread STIs than insertive condoms because of the additional material covering the vulva and area around the anus.
What are Receptive Condoms made of?
The only brand of receptive condom available at Sex Out Loud (FC2 Female Condom) is made of polyurethane. It can be used by people who have a latex allergy, and is actually safe to use with oil-based lubricants.