Female condoms (internal condoms) in Australia
By spafe ·Reviewed 18 Jul 2026 ·Effectiveness figures from healthdirect, availability checked against live Australian retail listings, all linked where they appear
A female condom, properly called an internal condom, is a soft nitrile pouch worn inside the vagina rather than on the penis. It’s 95% effective at preventing pregnancy with perfect use and about 79% with typical use1, it protects against STIs, and it can be inserted up to 8 hours before sex2. In Australia exactly one product is sold, the Femidom FC2, and you won’t find it on pharmacy shelves. It’s bought online, at about $4 per condom2. One rule above all, never use one together with a regular condom1.
What an internal condom actually is
Picture a soft, loose-fitting pouch about 17cm long with a flexible ring at each end. The closed inner ring anchors it inside, the open outer ring stays outside the body and covers part of the vulva, which is also why it offers a little more skin coverage than an external condom. It’s made of nitrile, the same latex free synthetic used in medical gloves, so it’s fine for latex allergies and works with any lube.
Inserting one, in four moves
- Squeeze the inner ring into a long, narrow shape, like starting a tampon without an applicator.
- Slide it in as far as it goes. The inner ring settles behind the pubic bone and you shouldn’t feel it.
- Leave the outer ring outside. It’s meant to sit flat against the body, not tuck in.
- Guide entry through the ring so nothing slips between the pouch and skin. Afterwards, twist the outer ring closed, pull it out gently and bin it.
Internal condom or regular condom?
Internal condom
- 95% perfect use, 79% typical use.
- Worn by the receptive partner, up to 8 hours ahead, so nothing interrupts the moment.
- Latex free nitrile. Any lube, oil included.
- Covers part of the vulva, a little more skin protected.
- One product in Australia, online only, about $4 each.
External (regular) condom
- 98% perfect use, 88% typical use.
- Goes on at the moment, and fit matters, which is our whole thing.
- Latex, polyisoprene, polyurethane or nitrile. Latex free options here.
- 79 products in our database, from 46mm to 64mm wide.
- On every supermarket shelf, from about 32c each.
Where you can actually get one
Here’s the straight answer, because plenty of pages dance around it. Australian supermarkets and chemists don’t stock internal condoms. One product is imported, the Femidom FC2, brought in by Glyde Health, and it’s sold through online condom retailers. A 3 pack runs about $11.952, which works out near $4 per condom, roughly five times the price of a good external condom. Some sexual health clinics and family planning services also supply them, so it’s worth asking if you’re visiting one anyway.
Prices checked July 2026 from live retailer listings. We don’t track internal condoms in the price database because there’s a single product with no retailer competition, but if that changes, we’ll build the table.
Things people ask
Is "femidom" the same thing?
Yes. Femidom is the brand name the FC2 sells under here, the way tissues are all "Kleenex". Female condom, internal condom, femidom, FC2, one product.
Does it protect against STIs?
Yes. It's a full barrier, nitrile like medical gloves, and it covers slightly more skin than an external condom does.
Can it get lost inside?
No. The outer ring stays outside the body the whole time, so there's always something to remove it by.
Can you use it for anal sex?
It's not designed or approved for that, so we won't tell you otherwise. External condoms with plenty of lube are the studied option.
Why is typical use only 79%?
Same story as external condoms, technique. The big errors are entry slipping outside the pouch and the outer ring getting pushed in. Guiding entry through the ring fixes most of it. Our effectiveness guide covers the perfect versus typical use gap properly.
Sources
- healthdirect Australia, Contraception options (95%/79% effectiveness) and Condoms (never use both types together). healthdirect.gov.au/contraception-options · healthdirect.gov.au/condoms
- Femidom FC2 product specifications and AU pricing, CondomSales live listing, July 2026 (nitrile, 17cm, single size, insert up to 8 hours before, $11.95 per 3 pack). condomsales.com.au
- Better Health Channel, Condoms (internal condom use and effectiveness). betterhealth.vic.gov.au
Sharing the job around?
Internal condoms put the receptive partner in charge. For the external kind, the upgrade that matters most is the right width, and that takes one measurement.