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Original poster

Unusual contraception- femidom

50 replies

Moulez · 09/02/2026 06:04

Doing sex ed and every time this comes up it reminds me I've never heard of anyone who uses it. Do people? Do you? What's it like?!
see also diaphragm/sponge/spermicide methods.

OP posts:
Silverbirchleaf · 09/02/2026 06:07

I don’t think it’s made anymore.

AutumnLover1989 · 09/02/2026 06:24

Like a windsock 😁

Newyearsameme26 · 09/02/2026 06:39

Haha my dc were talking to us about this after sex ed last week! I couldn't believe that they are still around. Ive never used one but dh implied that he had.

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Women's health
50NotFat · 09/02/2026 06:40

I used one once many years ago. Awful things!

Monket · 09/02/2026 06:43

Diaphragm has a very low (relatively speaking) success rate. I looked into it quite recently to avoid hormonal contraception but it’s like 80% successful. That’s not high enough for me!

StarlightLady · 09/02/2026 09:11

That brings back memories! I tried a few times many, many years ago. Aside from the fact that when l looked at myself in a full length mirror l looked as if l’d seriously misplaced a supermarket bag when drunk, l was always concerned that someone would accidentally slip on the wrong side of it.

I think they came in a packet of 2 (may be wrong here), when the short supply l had ran out, l never returned to them. They were more expensive than regular “male” condoms and l could see no benefits.

FiftyShadesOfPurple · 09/02/2026 09:17

I tried it back in the 90s. It just ended up bunched up inside me. Wouldn't recommend.

Original poster
Moulez · 09/02/2026 19:16

If they're not made anymore, I wonder why they're still covered in the syllabus

OP posts:
CitizenZ · 09/02/2026 19:25

Me and my ex tested one out back in the day. It was horrendous. All I could hear was it 'rustling' like scrunched up plastic bag with every stroke. It was a real passion killer.

statetrooperstacey · 10/02/2026 06:23

Expensive and noisy, if you u could get over the eating crisps in t he cinema vibes they actually felt nice and were easy to use . And yes also massive.

Jrisix · 10/02/2026 06:25

I read an article about these once that said they can be important for giving women agency over contraceptive use. Including in scenarios where men refuse to wear a male condom. But I always envisioned them needing cooperation from a male partner to work properly and stay in place? Never tried them myself.

OriginalSkang · 10/02/2026 06:27

I've just looked, you can still buy them

PumpkinsAndCoconuts · 10/02/2026 06:31

when I was a teenager I was told that the femidom was used by women who can’t trust their sexual partner(s). With the strong implication that we were talking about prostitutes. But I don’t know…🤷‍♀️ (and as others said: wouldn’t you still need cooperation from your sexual partner?)

I have actually tried the diaphragm. But the one that apparently fit me (according to the gyno doing the fitting) isn’t produced anymore and I just don’t want to deal with the faff nowadays…

Ohdearwhatnow4 · 10/02/2026 06:36

I use to use them back in the 90's, yes they did rustle but worked for me. The enjoyment of sex was the same. They were more expensive than condoms but cheaper than a a baby.

ScaryM0nster · 10/02/2026 06:40

Some men do genuinely struggle with wearing condoms and they’re a solid alternative option in that scenario.

Probably better with background music though.

parietal · 10/02/2026 06:45

Apparently they are quite popular in parts of Africa.

WetBandits · 10/02/2026 06:46

I’ve worked in sexual health for five years and nobody has ever asked for one! I don’t even know if we have them in stock.

I’m going to raid the stock cupboards today and report back Grin

Westfacing · 10/02/2026 06:52

Are those sponge things still in use?

Back in the 80s as nurses we were given a few by a medical rep to have a look at - they seemed very big and cumbersome.

On our coffee and fag break we decided that they would be effective as once the sponge was in place there's be no room for anything else!

Westfacing · 10/02/2026 06:52

Are those sponge things still in use?

Back in the 80s as nurses we were given a few by a medical rep to have a look at - they seemed very big and cumbersome.

On our coffee and fag break we decided that they would be effective as once the sponge was in place there's be no room for anything else!

Perfect28 · 10/02/2026 07:16

They are made, I am a sex ed teacher and I show the kids one and explain how it works and we compare male and female condoms pros and cons.

StarlightLady · 10/02/2026 07:33

statetrooperstacey · 10/02/2026 06:23

Expensive and noisy, if you u could get over the eating crisps in t he cinema vibes they actually felt nice and were easy to use . And yes also massive.

Crisps in the cinema? Popcorn surely! Don’t you mean popcorn? 😆

ImFineItsAllFine · 10/02/2026 07:39

Ive tried femidoms in the past. They are ok, and good for men who hate condoms, but as pp have said they rustle like a crisp packet! They are also v expensive.

x2boys · 10/02/2026 07:41

Never used one in do vaguely remember seeing one ,maybe I got it free at Freshers week circa early 90,s?
It looked ungainly and I can imagine it might spoil the moment.

StarlightLady · 10/02/2026 07:47

Jrisix · 10/02/2026 06:25

I read an article about these once that said they can be important for giving women agency over contraceptive use. Including in scenarios where men refuse to wear a male condom. But I always envisioned them needing cooperation from a male partner to work properly and stay in place? Never tried them myself.

As l mentioned upthread, l was worried about someone being the wrong side of it. And l was referring to scenarios occurring by accident. I fail to see how they would work with non co-operative males. There’s a better solution for that! No condom = no entry!

CurlewKate · 10/02/2026 07:57

parietal · 10/02/2026 06:45

Apparently they are quite popular in parts of Africa.

Yes. Among women who want to protect themselves from HIV when the men they have sex with won’t.