Employing the known 'tensegrity' principle, a female condom (19) is configured such that when the condom (19) is inserted into a woman's vagina, the woman's introitus acts on a proximal section of an enlarged pouch extending between internal and external biasing members (29, 31) that are rings on the condom. Inward compression forces exerted by the introitus on the inner ring (31) of the condom (19) causes the inner ring (31) to be pushed distally within the vaginal canal, and the proximal pouch section to become a tension member pulling against the external ring (29). This causes a tenting of the proximal pouch section (43) against the introitus. The resulting interaction of compression and tensile forces serves to provide the condom with a high degree of internal and external stability, including resistance to twisting and slippage.
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