The Female Condom from Reality has been around since 1994, yet many women are still unfamiliar with it's use or have never tried one. Read on as Safety Girl sheds some light on the greatest oxy-moron in the history of sex: The Female Condom.

The Basics
The Female Condom was introduced to the world on August 15, 1994. It was introduced in Europe and Canada as the Femidom, and introduced as the Reality here in the US. The whole idea was to provide an alternative to male condoms that would allow women condom users more of a choice when it came to sex.

The Female Condom is a soft, loose-fitting plastic pouch made of polyurethane (not latex) that lines the vagina. It has a semi-stiff plastic ring at each end. The inner ring is used to insert the device inside the vagina and hold it in place. The outer ring partly covers the labia area and holds the condom open.

Because it's made of Polyurethane, and not latex, the Reality condom can be used with oil bases lubes. This also make the Reality a favorite of those with latex allergies, who are otherwise unable to use a regular latex condoms.

Putting the Condom In.
The female condom can be inserted up to 8 hours before sex. However, most women prefer to insert it between 2 and 20 minutes prior to sexual intercourse. The condom should be removed immediately after sex.

Squeeze the inner ring with your thumb and middle finger, placing your index finger down upon the plastic inside the inner ring. Still squeezing, spread the labia apart. With your hand positioned with your palm towards you, insert the Female Condom into the vagina. Push the inner ring and pouch the rest of the way into the vagina until the inner ring is up past the pubic bone. The outside ring should now lie against the vulva, covering the opening of the vagina.Make sure the condom feels natural and comfortable. If it doesn't feel right, its probably not positioned right.

The Verdict
The Reality is the Female Condom has gotten mixed reviews here in the US. While many men claim that it feels much better than a traditional condom some men are still unwilling to pay the extra money for it. Naturally, the larger size of the Female Condom provides for a more natural feel and many men like the fact that they don't actually wear anything. Women have also reported that the Female Condom feels quite a bit different from a traditional condom with respect to texture and fit. Furthermore, the polyurethane of the Female Condom is much more heat sensitive and holds body heat better. These features, along with the choice it provides for women, make the Female Condom a good choice for all couples. Everybody should at least try one Female Condom; who knows, it might be your favorite!!