Pros and Cons of Female and Male Condoms

Pros and Cons of the Female Condom

A male condom is composed of rubber or polyurethane and fits over the shaft of an erect penis, while a female condom is inserted into and lines the vaginal canal of the female.  There are many factors which will determine how effective either form of condom would be such as; age, frequency of sexual intercourse and how closely the user follows the instructions.
The failure rates of a female condom are 21%, which means that 21 in every 100 users will become pregnant within the first year of use.  Female condoms do not have any harmful long term side effects, with the exception of a person having a latex allergy.  Female condoms have certain pros and cons which a woman might want to explore prior to use:

    No side effects
    No hormones
    Less reliable than other birth control methods
    Provides no reduction in the transmission of human papilloma virus (HPV) or Trichomonas vaginalis
    Reduces chances of syphilis by 29%, further reduced to 50-75% when used correctly each time
    Reduces chances of genital herpes
    Reduces transmission rates of HIV/AIDS
    Reduces the risk of gonorrhea and Chlamydia
    Easy to obtain
    Do not need a prescription or medical examination in order to obtain
    Less likely than a male condom to cause an allergic reaction
    Small, easy to transport and disposable
    More expensive than male condoms
    Outer ring of condom might be cumbersome to use
    Popping or crackling noises during intercourse, which could be a distraction

Pros and Cons of Male Condoms

Male condoms have a 14-15% failure rate, which means that 14-15 people out of every 100 will accidentally conceive within the first year of use.  However, when used with other barrier methods, the male condom can be 100% effective, but should be avoided in those with an allergy to latex.  The following is a list of pros and cons to consider then thinking about using male condoms:

    Reduces the chances of sexually transmitted diseases
    No side effects to the average person (except those with a latex allergy)
    Small, easy to transport and disposable
    Do not need a medical examination or prescription to obtain
    Inexpensive and easy to find, convenient
    Some people can experience a dulled sexual sensation during intercourse
    Can be inconvenient because of interrupting foreplay
    Requires consistent and constant usage in order to be most effective
    Male must take on more responsibility in the sexual relationship

Source: STEADY HEALTH