Recently, several women's health organizations have been promoting the new and improved female condom.  This prompted me to start asking my patients if they've used it, and surprisingly, very few have even heard of it, let alone tried it. So I figured this column is a good place for me to add my voice to the promoters of the female condom. After all, the female condom is the only women-initiated birth control method that prevents both unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.

What is the female condom?

Like the male condom, the female condom is a tube that's closed on one end and open on the other. The sleeve-like device is inserted into a woman prior to sex, where it is held in place with a ring similar to the one on a diaphragm. Another ring stays outside, where it lies against the labia. The female condom can be inserted just before sex or up to 45 minutes prior. The female condom is 79 to 95 percent effective in preventing pregnancy, about the same as the male condom. It's available over the counter.

How do I use a female Condom?

To use a female condom, squeeze the inner ring between your fingers and insert it like a tampon. Push the inner ring in as far as it can go. Let the outer ring hang about an inch outside your body. Guide the penis through the outer ring. Right after ejaculation, squeeze and twist the outer ring and pull the pouch out gently. Like the male condom, it should be thrown away. Never use it again. Do not use the male and female condom at the same time! The friction makes both condoms more likely to break. The instructions are right on the package.

The new version of the female condom, FC2

In March 2009, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new version - the FC2 - that has some advantages over the original. It's much less expensive-about 82 cents each. It's also made of a new material that many women seem to prefer over the older version. The original female condoms were made from a polyurethane material. The new material, which is more latex-like, is softer, quieter, and warms up to body temperature more quickly. Most women note that it feels more "natural."

The female condom has been surprisingly slow to catch on since it was released to the market 15 years ago. However, I think with this new version, new price, and these educational campaigns, more women are going to be comfortable with this method because they control it, and it carries the dual benefit of preventing unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Try it, and let's hear from you about your experience.