By: JoEllen Notte

FC2 Internal Condoms

My love of these is no secret.  I think internal condoms are, pants down, the most underrated safer sex product on the market today. I just adore them. There’s a lot of unfair FC2 hatred floating around on the web so before we get down to business, let’s bust some FC2 myths:
  1. They are “crinkly” – The first incarnation of female condoms, way back when, were made of polyurethane and were apparently crinkly and folks seem to think this is still true. Nope. They are now, and have been for years, made of super-soft nitrile.
  2. They are hard to use. Once you learn how to insert an FC2 it’s easy-peasy. I know some folks prefer to take out the inner ring and I understand that impulse but haven’t felt the need myself. The upshot is, if the ring is poking you, it’s in wrong.
  3. They are “weird”. Maybe they seem weird at first but, honestly do you really think the first person to don a standard condom thought “This feels totes natural!”? Everything new is weird at first. Stop dismissing things that aren’t familiar like a 3 year-old. The “ew, weird” tendency of our industry (and maybe the internet in general?) is infuriating and leads to promising products being dismissed in waves of snark.

Now, what’s awesome about FC2? How do I count the ways?

  • They are nitrile and thus can be used with any lube including oil based.
  • They essentially line the inside of the vagina and cover the outside of the vulva allowing you and your partner to each use your preferred lubes. I do silicone inside and a thick water based on the vulva! I like to squirt a bunch of silicone lube inside mine and squish it around before inserting because, hospitality and all.
  • They cover more genital real estate offering a bit of extra protection against things like HPV and Herpes which are transmitted via skin to skin contact.
  • They warm to your body temperature and (I find) become less noticeable by far than most external condoms.
  • During period sex they can help confine blood to the area above the condom while you’re getting down – now, I say “can” and “help” because it’s not a sure thing. Sometimes a heavy flow will laugh in the face of an FC2 but often it can keep things a bit less messy (and it looks cool when you pull it out- if you find body stuff as fascinating as I do).
  • Finally, you don’t have to jump right up after sex and take them out – you can collapse in a cuddly heap for a bit. Seriously. If you want to be sure it won’t leak just reach down and give the end a twist. Then go back to cuddling.

I have introduced several partners to these and watched them go from skeptics to supporters really fast.

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