"Youve probably heard about it  maybe you even remember seeing it once  but youre not really sure what it is or even where to find it.  The female condom FC or internal condom is a nonhormonal barrier method of birth control. But instead of going on a penis it goes in a vagina which is why its also sometimes referred to as an internal condom. For more information BuzzFeed Health spoke with two experts who could demystify this lesserknown contraceptive   Dr. Harry Fisch http clinical professor of urology and reproductive medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College and chief corporate officer of Veru Healthcare which distributes FC   Dr. Lauren Streicher httpdrstreicher.com associate clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern Universitys Feinberg School of Medicine . Its free with a prescription from your doctor.   Universal Pictures  Up until the past few months the internal condom lived on store shelves usually right next to the male condoms. But it was difficult to get shelf space and secure the product in every outlet Fisch tells BuzzFeed Health. Plus the internal condoms came in threepacks making them more expensive than a big box of male condoms.  Recently Veru Healthcare moved FC behind the counter where its available in packs of  with a prescription from your provider. Under the Affordable Care Act insurance plans must cover https at least one form of contraception from each FDAapproved method at no cost. And since FC is the only FDAapproved internal condom it will be free httpsfc.us.comwpcontentuploadsBillingFactsheet_.pdf with a prescription from your doctor. There are a few exceptions to this which you can read more about here https_term.bsLxWrPy. . But you dont necessarily need a prescription  or insurance  to get it.  According to Fisch there will soon be a way to order FC directly from their website httpsfc.us.compatient at about . each if youre uninsured or unable to get a prescription. You can also find them for free at many local health centers said Fisch. . It goes inside and outside of the vagina.   The internal condom basically looks like an oversized male condom with a ring at each end. The inner ring is made of polyurethane and is there to help you push it back into the vagina so it stays in place during sex. The outer ring actually stays outside of the vagina covering the vulva.  The condom itself is longer and looser than a male condom since its designed to feel and function almost like a second skin. So you might be a little shocked at how roomy it looks when you first take it out of the package.  Its kind of like a vagina in that a vagina expands Streicher told BuzzFeed Health. A vagina has the capability to accommodate a short penis a long penis a thin penis and a thick penis. This material has the ability to expand to accommodate and because of that you need to have enough there. . Because it reduces skintocontact it might also provide greater protection against herpes and HPV.  That outer ring covers more surface area than a male condom meaning theres less skintoskin genital contact during sex. While this hasnt been evaluated in clinical studies Fisch and Streicher said this could reduce the risk of transmitting skintoskin STIs like herpes or HPV which male condoms dont fully protect against. . Internal condoms are latexfree.    This is a huge benefit for people with latex allergies or just anyone who hates the feel of latex. The internal condom is made of nitrile which is the same material used for surgical gloves.  As a surgeon I can tell you one of the things surgeons require is to be able to feel says Streicher. Surgical gloves have been designed with that in mind. Theyre not going to break but youre going to be able to feel through it. Youre not going to lose the sensation.  Another bonus nitrile is known to transfer heat better than latex so it might feel more natural than sex with a latex condom. . It offers about the same pregnancy protection as a male condom.  Before we get into the numbers its helpful to understand that birth control effectiveness is measured in terms of failure rates or the percentage of people who get pregnant within the first year of using this method.  Internal condoms have a  failure rate with perfect use https using it consistently and correctly every single time making them  effective. In contrast male condoms have a perfect use failure rate of  making them  effective.  The failure rate for both male and female condoms https goes up when you also include people who used the method inconsistently or incorrectly referred to as typical use. Internal condoms have a typical use failure rate of  while male condoms have a typical use failure rate of .  The effectiveness of FC httpsfc.us.comwpcontentuploadsinstructions_for_use_english.pdf is actually taken from research on the effectiveness of its predecessor FC the original internal condom approved in . Since the FC is an improved version of FC made of nitrile instead of polyurethane no further FDA studies were required said Fisch. However a study https comparing FC and FC found they had comparable failure rates. . Experts say it takes a few tries to really get the hang of it.   This isnt something you should break out for the first time right before you have sex. It takes a little bit of practice and when it comes to pregnancy and STI protection you dont want to just wing it.  Streicher recommends inserting it once or twice on your own to get used to it. If youve ever used a menstrual cup or a NuvaRing this should feel pretty familiar. Fortunately if youre getting the internal condom for free you dont have to worry about wasting a few while you figure it out. Heres a stepbystep guide to inserting the internal condom httpsfc.us.comhowtousefcfemalecondomstepbystepinstructionsenglish.  . It comes prelubricated with a siliconebased lube but you can also use oilbased lubes with it.   As soon as you open the internal condom youll notice that its pretty well lubedup. But if youre someone who likes using coconut oil or another oilbased lube in bed youre free to do that with internal condoms too.  Thats a pretty cool bonus since you cant use oilbased lubes with latex condoms as it causes them to break down and become less effective. . When the penis first enters the vagina youll need to hold that outer ring in place.    This makes sure that the outer ring doesnt accidentally get pushed into the vagina where it wont be as effective on the first thrust. Streicher suggests gently holding the outer ring in place when the penis first enters the vagina just to make sure its comfortable and in the right spot. After that you can go handsfree.  If at any point the internal condom gets pushed into the vagina gets pushed to the side or slips out stop what youre doing and use a new one. Keep in mind that any mishap may reduce its effectiveness in the same way that a male condom that breaksslips offgets lost inside the vagina would be less effective. If theres a chance that any semen got into your vagina you may want to ask your doctor or pharmacist about emergency contraception. . Its possible it could help with sexual functioning for both partners.  Unlike the male condom the internal condom is not dictated by an erection. While the penis needs to be erect before you put on a male condom you and your partner can be at any stage of sex when you insert an internal condom. You could even put it in before sex though were not sure why youd want to.  This means that if someone has a hard time maintaining an erection when they put on a condom they might not have an issue with the internal condom. Plus theres less pressure on the person with the penis if they do lose their erection at some point because you dont have to worry about the condom slipping off.  And remember that outer ring Streicher says that some people might get some added stimulation from the ring rubbing against their clitoris during sex. . It can also be used as a barrier during oral sex.   If dental dams https_term.ijjJxBWVj arent your thing again latex you can use the internal condom as a barrier during oral sex says Streicher. This can help protect against STI transmission and it might make the giver or receiver feel a little more comfortable. . And because its made specifically for vaginas it might help someone feel safer and more empowered when it comes to the condom conversation.  If you have a vagina youve probably had a condom negotiation at some point in your sex life when for whatever reason someone didnt want to use one. For the record anyone who refuses to do something that will make you feel safe and comfortable during sex probably doesnt deserve to have to sex with you.  That said the internal condom might make the whole condom negotiation thing easier. For instance  Penis owner I dont have a condom. Lets just do it anyway.  Vagina owner I have one It goes in me but whatever its fine.  Penis owner I cant have sex with a condom. Ill immediately lose my erection.  Vagina owner No worries I have an internal condom. It goes in me not on you so youll probably be fine.  Penis owner Im allergic to latex.  Vagina owner Interesting I have an internal condom though. Its latexfree.  Penis owner Condoms never fit me.  Vagina owner attempts to refrain from eye rolling I have an internal condom. Youll fit. Is it a plastic bag Is it an elephant condom Is it one of those bags you stick your wet umbrella in when you go in a department store What is happening  Theyre super weird. But its not like the male condom is this glamorous accessory that everyone cant wait to show off. That skintight penis sleeve is just as awkward. Contraception doesnt have to be sexy and sleek  it just has to be something that works and that feels good. And in that case the more options the better."