Family Planning

Side Effects, Health Benefits, and Health RisksSide EffectsNoneKnown Health BenefitsHelp protect against:ó Risks of pregnancyó STIs, including HIVKnown Health RisksNoneCorrecting Misunderstandings (see also Questions and Answers, p. 219)Female condoms:óóóóóCannot get lost in the woman’s body.Are not difficult to use, but correct use needs to be learned.Do not have holes that HIV can pass through.Are used by married couples. They are not only for use outside marriage.Do not cause illness in a woman because they prevent semen or spermfrom entering her body.Who Can Use FemaleCondoms14Female CondomsMedical Eligibility Criteria forFemale CondomsAll women can use plastic female condoms. No medical conditionsprevent the use of this method.(For information on eligibility criteria for latex female condoms, seeMedical Eligibility Criteria for Male Condoms, p. 202. For informationon managing clients with latex allergy, see Male Condoms, Mildirritation in or around the vagina and penis or mild allergic reactionto condom, p. 207; and Severe allergic reaction to condom, p. 207.)Who Can Use Female Condoms213