Glossary
Finger cot
A thin sheath you roll over one finger, as a hygienic barrier.
What is a finger cot?
A finger cot (Dutch: vingercondoom) is a thin sheath you roll over one finger. It works as a hygienic barrier for penetration with the hand: it lowers the chance that you pass on bacteria, and it neatly covers a small cut or a rough nail edge. You use it once and throw it away afterward.
| Dutch term | vingercondoom |
| What it is | a sheath over one finger |
| Material | latex, nitrile or polyethylene |
| What for | a hygienic barrier for handwork |
| Use | once, then throw away |
What you use it for
It is small but handy. The information on it describes a finger cot as a thin sheath of latex, nitrile or polyethylene that forms a hygienic barrier and is for single use. The Amsterdam condom specialist Condomerie mentions using it during intimate foreplay: it reduces the transfer of bacteria, gonorrhea among them, through the hands. Two rules of thumb: never use the same sheath for anal and vaginal, and treat it as a tidy replacement for a bandage when you have an open cut on your finger.
What a finger cot is not
“Isn’t that overly careful?” Not really. It is a small effort for a specific gain: with a cut, with long or sharp nails, or to keep anal and vaginal neatly apart. Beyond that you do not need it, and no one gets to decide that but you.
What I see of it myself
I like working with care, and a finger cot is sometimes part of that. If I have a scratch on my hand, or we go from anal to something else, a sheath like that is rolled on in a second. That is easy for you, because you do not have to bring it up yourself; I just take care of it. It takes nothing away from the feeling and only adds a bit of calm. Care and pleasure do not fight each other, they make each other stronger.
Related terms
- Condom. The best-known barrier, which the finger cot is a mini version of.
- Dental dam. Another barrier, for oral sex on the vulva or anus.
- Gloves. A larger version for the whole hand.
- Safer sex. The wider frame this sheath fits into.
What is a finger cot?
A finger cot is a thin sheath you roll over one finger, made of latex, nitrile or polyethylene. It works as a hygienic barrier for penetration with the hand: it lowers the chance of passing on bacteria and it covers a small cut. You use it once.
When do you use a finger cot?
Mainly when there is a reason for it: a cut or a rough nail edge on your finger, long or sharp nails, or to keep anal and vaginal neatly apart. Never use the same sheath for both. Beyond that you do not need it, and that is yours to decide.
Want to know more
Curious how careful can still feel good?
I'm Victor, a gigolo for women. I handle the careful side myself, without it taking anything away from the feeling. Curious how that works? A message is quick to send, and I usually reply within a day.