Reports from the national Demographic health survey (NDHS) indicates that
only about 28.6 % of Nigerian women know about female condoms while less
than 0.5 % Nigerian women actually use
female condoms.
As a peer educator
with Society for Family Health(SFH) and currently a community facilitator in implementing the USAIDs
sponsored Strengthening HIV Prevention Services for Most-at-Risk Population(SHiPS
for MARPs) project in Nigeria , I have noticed more worrisome the high Percentage of Female sex
workers (FSWs) without adequate knowledge of Female Condoms.
When more women have proper information on female
condoms they stand a better chance of making healthy sexual decisions, preventing
unwanted pregnancies, HIV and STIs.
Below are steps on how to use female condoms & benefits of female condom use.
Steps on How to use Female Condoms.
1. Before
opening your FEMALE CONDOM:’
• Check the expiry date which is
stamped on the front or on the side of the FEMALE CONDOM packet.
• Spread the lubrication inside
around by rubbing the packet with your hands
2. To
open the packet, tear straight down from the arrow at the top and remove the
condom.
• Do not use scissors, a knife or
your teeth to open the packet
.
3. hold
the inner ring between your thumb and forefinger. Then squeeze the sides of the
inner ring together to form a point.
4. You
can insert FEMALE CONDOM in lots of different ways. Find a position that is
comfortable. This may be standing, sitting, squatting or lying down.
5. Feel
for the outer lips of your vagina and spread them.
6. Use
the squeezed inner ring to push FEMALE CONDOM into your vagina. Slide your
index finger or middle finger inside the condom and push it in your vagina as
far as possible, using the inner ring. Make sure the condom is not twisted and
lies smoothly against your vaginal wall.
7. A
small part of the condom, including the outer ring, stays outside your body and
lies over the lips of your vagina, partially protecting your external sex
organs and covering the base of your partner’s penis.
8. FEMALE CONDOM lines the inside of your vagina
and covers your cervix. The opening of your cervix is so small that it is
impossible for FEMALE CONDOM to pass through this space.
9. Hold the outer ring in place as your partner
guides his penis inside the condom. Once his penis is inside the condom, you do
not have to continue holding the outer ring. For extra pleasure you may ant to
add more lubricant either on the inside or outside of FEMALE CONDOM or directly
onto your partner’s penis once the condom is inserted.
10.
N/B: Your partner needs to immediately
withdraw his penis if:• His penis enters between the condom and the vagina
wall. In this case you should put the outer ring back in position before he
slides his penis back inside the condom.• The outer ring has been pushed into
your vagina. In this case you should use a new FEMALE CONDOM.
11.
To take FEMALE CONDOM out, hold the
outer ring and twist it to keep the semen inside. It’s best to do this before
standing up. Gently pull the condom out, wrap it in a tissue or the empty
packet, and throw it in a rubbish bin.
Video illustration on female condom use
ADVANTAGES OF FEMALE CONDOM
