Condoms: Male vs. Female

by Tara Block 11/27/07 27 Reactions 4 Shares Print

Condoms are an amazing invention, aren't they? Not only are they effective at helping you not get pregnant, but also they help prevent you from contracting an STI. Male condoms have been around much longer than female condoms so I think they definitely get used more, but isn't it great that there's another option available that allows women can be in control, too? A woman can now use the female condom to protect herself from disease and motherhood, and no longer has to rely on the guy to use a condom.

Want to see how these two compare? Then read more

	Male	Female
What they're made of	Latex, polyurethane, or lamb intestines	Polyurethane (great for people who have a latex sensitivity)
Price	Latex condoms cost $5 for a 12-pack Polyurethane condoms cost about $7 for a 6-pack Natural Lamb condoms costs about $8 for a 12-pack	$10 for a 5-pack
Efficacy against preventing pregnancy	85 percent effective	75 percent effective
Do they prevent STIs?	Condoms made out of latex and polyurethane do, but natural lamb condoms don't.	Yes
Lubricants	You can use only water-based lubes on latex male condoms, but you can use both water- and oil-based lubes on ones made out of polyurethane or lamb intestine.	You can use both oil- and water-based lubricants
Availability	Easy to find at pharmacies, grocery stores, and some bathrooms and doctor's offices for free. Available for free under Obamacare.	They're not usually found at stores. You may need to get them from your doctor or order them online. Available for free under Obamacare.
When can it be used?	It must be placed on the penis immediately before intercourse, when the man has an erection.	It can be inserted up to 8 hours before intercourse.
Use	They can break or slip off, but using the right size condom should help solve this problem.	It may make noise while you're having sex, but using extra lubricant can help.
Comfort and ease	It's easy to put on and it fits snugly around the penis when erect, so it stays put while you're having sex.	Some people complain that it's difficult to insert the inner rim, and that the outer rim doesn't stay put while you're having sex. Some also say that it moves around while they have sex, so it's really noticeable and distracting.
Removal	After sex, hold the outer rim as the man pulls his penis out of the woman. Then the condom can be easily slid off and thrown away.	After sex, gently tug on the outer rim and pull the condom out of the woman.

I know people who absolutely love the female condom, and I know people who absolutely despise it, but the same goes for male condoms. That's why it's great that there are so many birth control options out there to fit people's needs and preferences.

— Additional reporting by Alexis Nordby

Source: Shutterstock, Getty

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18 Comments

4 years

I think i would like to have sex with a women that have a female condom,one reason sometimes the male condoms cut off the blood to a portion of the penis, and there by the penia is less hard than it wound be with out it on, so i think i like the idea of try n the female with her condom, a change i think i can get use to.

chakra_healer 6 years

Female condoms are OK. They are great for the male because there is that extra freedom and they feel hot due to being inserted long before sex. Down side is, I couldn't feel much. It felt much thicker than a condom. And yeah, it was noisy... like squeaky. Extra lube made it better, but not silent. Oh and the hanging out bit is actually quite nice, gives a little clitoral stimulation. If I were singling and mingling, i'd use them just for the control factor. It really ends all the "do you have a condom" or "I hate condoms" silliness.

chakra_healer 6 years

Female condoms are OK. They are great for the male because there is that extra freedom and they feel hot due to being inserted long before sex. Down side is, I couldn't feel much. It felt much thicker than a condom. And yeah, it was noisy... like squeaky. Extra lube made it better, but not silent. Oh and the hanging out bit is actually quite nice, gives a little clitoral stimulation.If I were singling and mingling, i'd use them just for the control factor. It really ends all the "do you have a condom" or "I hate condoms" silliness.

MissFamous182 6 years

prefer MALE... female ones.. are nosiy and funny looking

ashleygaidhlig 6 years

I take part in the responsibility for using a condom! I suggest it and help get it sorted! Female condoms though make a weird noise hahah so I just can't use them without bursting out laughing!!

ashleygaidhlig 6 years

I take part in the responsibility for using a condom! I suggest it and help get it sorted!Female condoms though make a weird noise hahah so I just can't use them without bursting out laughing!!

martinique 6 years

Eh. Female condoms just seem awkward to me.

ThePerfectScore 6 years

Female condoms are inconvenient to purchase... I think the Male condom will continue to be my preferred method

omilawd 6 years

I'll stick with the male condoms. :P

llsand 6 years

Sorry but when i get going most of my neurons aren't working so complicated condoms don't do it for me. I like the good old quick and easy to slip on male condoms :)