Reality female condoms 3 pack review
Unless you feel like going through a couple boxes just trying to get it in (that "virgin feeling" without the blood or most of the pain, just the feeling of complete ineptitude), don't bother with the Reality Female Condoms.Published: February 19, 2008
Pros:
Didn't irritate her, long list of instructions for use, didn't have to be hard to put it in
Cons:
Requires a lot of lube, hard to use, less sensation, expensive compared to male condoms
The female condom. The inverse of the male condom, it's meant to be inserted into the woman (not unlike a tampon) and remain in her while she has intercourse. It was developed as a way to combat STD transmission and pregnancy in poorer countries.
Theoretically, this has several advantages, most notably that the lady's partner doesn't have to be hard to use it (nor does he have to pull out immediately after spurting). According to the directions, she can put one in up to eight hours before sex (although the packaging admits an average time between two and twenty minutes). However, in my and my partner's attempts to use it, it doesn't work, and it isn't satisfying.
Problem 1: Difficult to use. For women who do not like tampons (and therefore have either forgotten how to put one in or never learned), it's a bear to get in, despite the included eight step instructions. If she's small, the inner ring is too big to snug behind her pubic bone and stay in place. Seriously. The instructions claim you will go through three or four of these trying to figure out how to get it in and make it stay in. I believe them. I couldn't get it in her and make it stay, and I'm an engineer.
Problem 2: Requires a gallon of lube. Also not joking about this. As the guy, you've effectively put a polyurethane sheath up your woman, and now you propose sticking your member into this sheath. Better add more lube and be ready to pull out now and then and add more. Even through it comes with extra tubes of lube (nice thought there), I would probably have to fill the pouch in order to not have it ride around in her. Pulling out on two separate occasions brought the entire thing with it (at which point it looked like I was wearing a long baggie), after which I pulled it off and switched to a regular condom.
Upshot: There are (not sanctioned) instructions for sanitization and reuse for people who can't afford to keep buying them on the WHO's web site.
Final Verdict: It's almost less trouble to go out and get a real doll or a plastic/synthetic flesh masturbation toy, and it'd probably feel about the same (minus actually preferring having her there). To her, it was a little better, as it didn't quite ride around enough on long strokes to cause any pulling or irritation (likely due to the polyurethane construction). At this price point, it's better to have a polyurethane male condom. Your mileage may vary, of course, but stay away if she is small and/or doesn't wear tampons. Even then, better keep a ton of lube around.
Theoretically, this has several advantages, most notably that the lady's partner doesn't have to be hard to use it (nor does he have to pull out immediately after spurting). According to the directions, she can put one in up to eight hours before sex (although the packaging admits an average time between two and twenty minutes). However, in my and my partner's attempts to use it, it doesn't work, and it isn't satisfying.
Problem 1: Difficult to use. For women who do not like tampons (and therefore have either forgotten how to put one in or never learned), it's a bear to get in, despite the included eight step instructions. If she's small, the inner ring is too big to snug behind her pubic bone and stay in place. Seriously. The instructions claim you will go through three or four of these trying to figure out how to get it in and make it stay in. I believe them. I couldn't get it in her and make it stay, and I'm an engineer.
Problem 2: Requires a gallon of lube. Also not joking about this. As the guy, you've effectively put a polyurethane sheath up your woman, and now you propose sticking your member into this sheath. Better add more lube and be ready to pull out now and then and add more. Even through it comes with extra tubes of lube (nice thought there), I would probably have to fill the pouch in order to not have it ride around in her. Pulling out on two separate occasions brought the entire thing with it (at which point it looked like I was wearing a long baggie), after which I pulled it off and switched to a regular condom.
Upshot: There are (not sanctioned) instructions for sanitization and reuse for people who can't afford to keep buying them on the WHO's web site.
Final Verdict: It's almost less trouble to go out and get a real doll or a plastic/synthetic flesh masturbation toy, and it'd probably feel about the same (minus actually preferring having her there). To her, it was a little better, as it didn't quite ride around enough on long strokes to cause any pulling or irritation (likely due to the polyurethane construction). At this price point, it's better to have a polyurethane male condom. Your mileage may vary, of course, but stay away if she is small and/or doesn't wear tampons. Even then, better keep a ton of lube around.
Follow-up commentary
15 days after original review
As a follow-up note, I did sit and ask my girlfriend while writing this review, and her opinions were included. Also, as to the note on reuse, there was a study done (found here (pdf)) by the World Health Organization on it, feel free to read it for their conclusions.
This product was provided free of charge to the reviewer. This review is in compliance with the
FTC guidelines.
About author
Reviewed by
Lord of Hyphens
(Eden Advanced reviewer) Experimental - Trying things so you don't have to
wrote 11 reviews
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my biggest complaint with the female condom was actually the noise factor. using it wasn't too difficult for me but the distracting plastic squishing sound was too much for me.
I recieved a few samples of these in "goody" bag at a party recently and have had some reservations about using them
I would actually be really intrested in hearing your girlfriends thoughts and opinions about them.
Also wouldn't reuse sort of defeat the purpose because i would think that it would be extremely hard to completlely sanitize them as well as also not make a microscopic rip or tear in te process
My suggestion would be silicone lube, to keep it more slippery.
And they should NEVER EVER EVER be reused. No condoms are reusable! They may possibly work if you're with the same partner, but really, go to your local clinic and get them for free. Planned Parenthood often has them for free.
Just to clarify... the WHO specifically recommends that these and all condoms NEVER be reused. The discussion of reuse on their website is a response to reports of reuse. The WHO devotes a lot of time and resources to countries that do not have adequate resources for pregnancy and STI protection.
I can't see why anyone would want to reuse condoms no matter their monetary means.
Is this just your day to leave pointless comments on reviews, Sleeping Dreamer?
Well if an engineer and his lovely Lady cannot get this thing to work easily I'd be lost! I cannot comfortably wear tampons and have no idea how I would decipher the placement. I think I'd just prefer to have a box of regular old male condoms available.
Thanks for the review and as for the reuse of any condom? Well I could see the benefit of the concept for low or no income areas where it is a struggle to get the people to use them at all. Still even in my very middle class neighborhood my daughter was given the advice that you can simply turn a condom inside out and reuse them...I was through the roof lemme tell ya. The informing child's mother and I educated all of the friends on the proper use of a condom and the whys of their use. My daughter is only 12 but it would seem it's never too early to start correctly informing our kids about safer sex practices.
I really don't like your emphasis on the use of female condoms by people in "poorer countries," and actually female condoms are more expensive (retail price, and it would seem in terms of manufacturing as well) than male condoms.
ALL condoms are intended to be preventative measures against pregnancy, AIDS, and other sexually transmitted infections all over the world, not just in "poorer countries." It's weird that you would characterize it this way, and seems sort of condescending.
The rest of the review is fair, however-- but I would also be interested in the wearer's point of view.
Nice review
Thank you for the review!
Interesting, but I don't think I am interested now. lol. Thanks for the great review.
good review
I've been curious about these! Thanks so much for the great review!
Thanks for the review!
great job!
great review