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Is the female condom as effective as the male condom in preventing HIV/AIDS?

How effective are female condoms? How do they work?

Thank you for your question.

Yes, the female condom is as effective as the male condom.

Another advantage is that you can insert it a few hours before sex, unlike the male condom that must be put onto an erect penis just before intercourse. Some women prefer this because they do not have to stop “in the heat of the moment” to put on a condom. It also gives them more control in preventing an HIV infection. The only disadvantage about female condoms is that they are not available for free and there are some places where one cannot find them.

Hopefully, as more women demand them, they will become more cheaply and widely available.

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