How effective is the female condom as a contraceptive?
Its ability to prevent pregnancy is similar to other barrier methods, such as the diaphragm and latex male condom (88 percent contraceptive effectiveness over six months for the female condom in the United States). If used correctly and consistently every time, the female condom is 95 percent effective. As a group, the barrier methods are less effective than sterilization, injectables such as DMPA, and the subdermal implant Norplant, all of which are close to perfect in terms of preventing pregnancy. Oral contraceptives (the pill) also provide more effective contraception than the female condom.
