the female condom has a 5% failure rate. Inconsistent or incorrect usage has been shown to result in a 21% failure rate. Some benefits of female condoms over other methods of birth control include: they allow women to share in the responsibility of preventing STIs they are safe to use for people with a latex allergy they can be used with both water-based lubricants and (unlike latex condoms) with oil-based lubricants they have no effect on a woman's natural hormone levels they can be purchased without a prescription they may enhance sex and sexual play for both partners - the condom's external ring may stimulate the clitoris and/or penis during vaginal intercourse they are not dependent on a male partner to maintain his erection in order to stay in place Some disadvantages to the female condom include: it may cause irritation of the genital area in people of both sexes (including irritation of the vagina, vulva, penis, or anus) it may slip into the vagina or anus during vaginal or anal intercourse it may reduce sensation during intercourse Advantages FC2 Female Condom gives women control and choice over their own sexual health; women can protect themselves when their partner does not want to use a male condom; female condoms may provide enhanced sensation for men as compared to male condoms; FC2 is hypo allergenic and is safe to use with people who are allergic to rubber latex; FC2 may be inserted hours before intercourse; female condoms are not dependent on the penis being erect for insertion and does not require immediate withdrawal after ejaculation; FC2 is not tight or constricting; FC2 is highly lubricated and the material warms to body temperature. The external genitals of the wearer and the base of the penis of the inserting partner may be better protected (from skin-to-skin transmitted STDs such as herpes and HPV) than when the male condom is used; however see studies below. Worldwide use Sales of female condoms have been low in developed countries, though developing countries are increasingly using them to complement already existing family planning and HIV/AIDS programming. Probable causes for poor sales are that inserting the female condom is a skill that has to be learned and that female condoms can be significantly more expensive than male condoms (upwards of 2 or 3 times the cost). Also, reported "rustling" sounds from the original version of the female condom