The internal condom, also known as the female condom, also known as FC2 is a nitrile based condom that is inserted into the vagina or anus. While bulky on first look, it can be an effective, and sexy way to protect yourself against STIs, HIV, and pregnancy. In my research, I have found a general sour disposition towards the internal condom. The Atlantic actually published a very interesting article in 2016 regarding the unpopularity of FC2. However, the positive aspects of being able to negotiate safer sex regardless of your genitals and protection against HIV and STIs is a huge sexy plus. Here are the sexy and less sexy details:
The condom has a two rings, each designed to keep the condom in place. The inner ring can be removed depending on what kind of sex you’re choosing to have. If you’re having vaginal sex, keep the ring in — if anal, ring out! The ring is helpful to remain secure in your vag.
It’s made out of Nitrile! Which means it’s LATEX-FREE! Talking to you, folks with latex allergies. Fun fact! FC1 – the precursor to FC2 – was made of polyurethane and the switch was made to nitrile because a major complaint of FC1 was that it made a lot of distracting squeaking or rustling.
The internal condom can be inserted up to 8 hours before sex. Eight. Hours. Which can mean no more stopping mid foreplay to get a condom on.
On perfect use, it has a 95% rate of effectiveness. In real life, it’s about 79%. External condoms with perfect use are 98% effective at preventing pregnancy. In real life, it averages to 82% rate of efficacy.
The internal condom is capital E – Expensive. Luckily for you, ACAS gives them out for free! Here is also a list of places that also gives them out for free!
There are a lot of reasons why people may or may not opt for the internal condom and for the next month, we have sent out 4 East and/or Southeast Asian “field researchers” to try out the condom and candidly write blog posts on their impressions and thoughts on using the condom.
 
Check out their posts on our blog at https://acasinternalcondoms.tumblr.com/
**Safer sex materials provided by Toronto Public Health