The VA w.o.w. Condom Feminine

The VA w.o.w. Condom Feminine (or VA for short) has been distributed as part of HIV prevention efforts in South Africa since 2004. More recently it has become available in Brazil, Indonesia and through government clinics in Portugal. Having gained the “CE mark” for European marketing, its manufacturer plans to bring it to shops and clinics in the UK, Germany and some other European countries by the end of 2007. One more trial is needed before the product can gain FDA approval for sale in the USA.

Like most male condoms, the VA is made of latex. When not stretched it is much shorter than the FC – around 9 cm (3.5 inches) – though it is highly elastic. It has a rounded triangular frame at the open end and a sponge inside the closed end, which helps to anchor it inside the vagina.

The VA is lubricated and does not contain spermicide. Oil-based lubricants should not be used with this female condom as they can damage latex.

The FC / FC2 female condom

The FC / FC2 female condom
The FC female condom has been available in Europe since 1992 and was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1993. It is available in many countries, at least in limited quantities, throughout the world. This female condom carries various brand names in different countries including Reality, Femidom, Dominique, Femy, Myfemy, Protectiv’ and Care.

The FC female condom is a polyurethane sheath or pouch about 17 cm (6.5 inches) in length. At each end there is a flexible ring. At the closed end of the sheath, the flexible ring is inserted into the vagina to hold the female condom in place. At the other open end of the sheath, the ring stays outside the vulva at the entrance to the vagina. This ring acts as a guide during penetration and it also stops the sheath bunching up inside the vagina.
There is silicone-based lubricant on the inside of the condom, but additional lubrication can be used. The condom does not contain spermicide.
In 2005 the makers of the FC female condom announced a new product called FC2. This has the same design as the original version but is made of nitrile, which may make it cheaper to produce. The FC2 began large-scale production in 2007.

What is the female condom?

The female condom is a thin sheath or pouch worn by a woman during sex. It entirely lines the vagina and helps to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including HIV. Two types of female condom are available.

- FC female condom

- FC2 female condom

Getting ready, Choosing the right condom

A number of different types of condom are now available. What is generally called a condom is the 'male' condom, a sheath or covering which fits over a man's penis, and which is closed at one end.
There is also now a female condom, or vaginal sheath, which is used by a woman and which fits inside her vagina. The rest of this page is about the male condom.

Why do I need to use a condom?

Condoms are the only form of protection that can both help to stop the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as HIV and prevent pregnancy.

How to use a condom

How to use a condom
Before Sex
- Use a new condom every time you have sex. These guys are not reusable. (There is a joke about that… It goes. How do you reuse a condom? A: Turn it inside out and wash the F**K out of it). Funny? Not really and it isn’t true either. Use a new condom every time.

- Put the condom on the penis as soon as the penis gets hard. Do this before foreplay, before the penis gets anywhere near any body opening (this is to avoid exposure to ANY body fluid that can carry infection).

- Putting the condom on can be difficult. First gently open the package. Don’t tear the condom in half in your haste. If you have properly completed step 2, you should be pretty excited, but remember if you ruin that condom, things could start to shrivel up on you. After you have the condom open figure out which way it needs to face to be put on properly. The rolled-up ring has to go on the outside so that you can roll it down your penis.

- Squeeze the tip gently so that you don’t trap any air inside it, and so that you leave room for the semen after you come. Hold the tip while you unroll the condom. Unroll it all the way down to the hair. For you Italian guys (like your author) going down to the hair first hair isn’t going to cut it. Roll it down to near the base of your penis. Don’t roll it down far enough to stuff your balls into it, just far enough down so that you will be able to handle it properly after orgasm (see next step).

After Sex
- While your penis is still hard, right after you come, hold the condom in place (this is possible because you have rolled the condom far enough down your penis) with your fingers and pull out slowly. This will avoid spilling any semen.

- Turn and move completely away. This is a good time to say, "Time to powder my nose" or something to that effect.

- Dispose of the condom properly. Unfortunately, they are not flushable. This means you have to throw it away. To prevent an incredible sticky mess, you may want to wrap it in some tissues or toilet paper or something.

- Wash yourself up. Washing with soap and water can help prevent the spread of disease.

- Afterplay is an important part of a healthy relationship. Separating yourself from your partner with a thin layer of latex should not mean that you have no attachment. Try to minimize the disruption in your relationship that condoms cause. Doing so can help you maintain a healthy attitude toward their use and can help build a healthy relationship.

How and what condoms to buy

Lubricated or non-lubricated condoms can be a personal choice. For vaginal sex, sometimes lubrication is provided the natural way. Sometimes added lubrication is not unwelcomed. For oral sex, non-lubricated should be chosen to prevent an awful taste in the mouth. For anal sex, you will probably need all the lubricant you can get.

Spermicide or non-spermicide Spermicide on condoms (usually nonoxynol-9) is not provided in enough quantity to work on its own, however, it is present in case of an accident. Apparently, it is present in case of spillage. Although its effectiveness is unproven, it would be difficult to image that it is less effective than no spermicide at all.
Nonoxynol-9 has its drawbacks. It has it’s own smell. It can cause allergic reactions in some people. It is probably not for people engaging in oral or anal sex. However, if added pregnancy protection is what you are looking for, nonoxynol-9 provides extra for no inconvenience.

Reservoir tip, comfort fit, and the female condom Some condoms have slightly different shapes. A reservoir tip is designed to hold semen after you orgasm. This is supposed to prevent breakage that could be caused by bursting. By giving the semen an expandable area in which to be deposited, the reservoir tip is designed to prevent breakage.
A comfort fit provides a loose pocket for the head of the penis. The shape of the condom is designed to provide some movement between the head of the penis and the side of the condom. This is supposed to provide more sensation for the man.
The female condom takes this one step further. The female condom is a sort of bag that is used to line the inside of the vagina. This device does not move with the man’s penis. It should provide the most sensation for the man. It can also be put in place long before intercourse. The female condom can also provide an added amount of spontaneity.