http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-female-condom.html
A Female Condom?
By Laura Sessions Stepp
Imagine a product for women that prevents HIV-AIDS and other sexually-transmitted diseases as well as pregnancy. That a woman can pick up at the drugstore, no prescription needed, and insert up to eight hours before intercourse.
Impossible? Not at all. It’s called the female condom, or FC1, a soft, transparent sheath that a woman inserts into her vagina. It is available at health clinics and some doctors’ offices, as well as some drugstores and drugstore websites.*
You would think that girls and women would be stockpiling it. In fact they are in Africa, where last year, 45 million were distributed. Not so, however, in the U.S., where female condoms make up only a tiny percentage of contraception sales.
Why the lack of interest here? FC developer Mary Ann Leeper suspects part of the reason is that American men are more likely than African men to use condoms – thus women in the U.S. aren’t as likely as African women to think they’re at risk of contracting an STI or getting pregnant.
Also, until now, the cost of a female condom, formerly anywhere from $2 to $5, was considerably higher than the cost of the male condom. The second generation female condom (FC2), to be distributed nationwide over the next few months, is considerably cheaper.
I suspect that the biggest reason why more FCs aren’t sold is that – like the women who could use them – those who sell them don’t know much about them. I recently interviewed female university students for a podcast on the female condom and one woman seemed to speak for the group when she said, “I had great sex ed. all through high school and I was never really told a lot about it and I don’t think my mom knows a lot about it and it’s just not something that people know a lot about…If we were educated it might be more popular…”
That’s what Leeper and others at The Female Health Company, which makes the female condom, are hoping as they begin a major push this fall to teach health professionals about its possibilities in cities such as Atlanta, New York and Washington, D.C. The company already provides technical support to public health programs in other countries, which helps account for its success overseas.
“For more than 20 years, we have believed…in the principle of doing well by doing good,” Leeper says. This past July, Fortune magazine rated the company first among emerging healthcare companies.
*Note: An alternative to the FC1/2, the VA w.o.w. Condom Feminine (“VA” for short) is available in a number of countries, but has not yet been approved by the United States FDA.
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Laura Sessions Stepp is Senior Media Fellow at The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, where she hosts a podcast for The Campaign’s new website, sexreally.com. SexReally seeks to foster conversations about relationships and sex while addressing gaps in people’s knowledge about fertility and contraceptive use through polling, videos, and other content.
For more about Mary Ann Leeper and the female condom, visit www.sexreally.com.
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32 comments
add your comment »the first time I ever heard of vaginal condoms I was channel surfing and some lady on the Maury show was telling her sons g/f she needed to use them ... it was random and strange . Not the condoms the show . Since then I've only seen them in ads for local get-in-get-out type stores when they're on sale . So yes we definately need to know more about them.
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why is this inappropriate?
We learned about the female condom in high school, oh maybe 1990 or 1991. I thought they sounded peculiar then and I still do although I've never seen or used one myself.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Good on yer Black. some of the comments had me rolling around too! What we all need a bit of laughter never mind who puts what where and with whom!
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why is this inappropriate?
My fiance and I tried them for a couple reasons. 1) we arent ready for baby number 2. 2) I cant stand the feeling of male condoms, I tend to have a bad reaction to the lubricants they use and 3) they were cheaper than the pill.
I hated them. It was like inserting a ziplock bag into myself. It was not painful, but it was uncomfortable. They may be great for preventing STD's, but they also cover the clitoris, so you can forget having an orgasm as well. (unless you are one of the truly blessed ones that can just from penetration) And they are noisy... we arent talking a little bit either...it was a strange squeaky/squishy noise. I lasted like 5 minutes before I said enough! So all in all, I love the theory, but it needs help in becomming more practical.
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why is this inappropriate?
I am a man and some 15 years ago there was
a female condom called 'Reality' and it came
in a 3 pack and cost around $10. I loved
them and even though they were more expensive
than regular condoms, I enjoyed them much
more than regular condoms and the women enjoyed them as well.
I believe Trojan brought the company out and then I never saw them again. Hope this new
FC is as good if not better than the original
one. And the price at $3... priceless for the protection(better in protecting both
people from STD's than standard condoms as the sheath extends out and around the labia).
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
I sorry, I am almost "rolling on the floor laughing" as my imagination runs wild with this topic. The rubber doll example started me off, then it came to the MC's coming off. I [heeheehee sorry] visualize the men with teeny weenies, and the guys with mighty swords and visions of slippage and bursting dams came to mind. I am still giggling like an idiot.
I truthfully suggest try it and if you like it then go for it!!!!
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why is this inappropriate?
I live in the USA and have never heard a female condom but even if I had, I have always had a condom or bought one before the possible fun begins. I will buy one or he will buy one. I will not do sex unprotected. Condoms all the time. Now that I am married, I still make my hubby use a condom untill we change our plans. I am not ready for a child yet so we're delaying that until I will be ready. Condoms and fun sex or no sex until I want children. Easy choice for most men....
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why is this inappropriate?
I'm pretty sure I've seen statistics that suggested that these are significantly less effective than male condoms. This, together with the comfort issues, seems like a VERY good reason for them not to be as popular here. Again, as someone pointed out, it is just as easy for a female to purchase male condoms and ensure that they are used when she has intercourse. The omissions from this article are quite disturbing, actually.
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why is this inappropriate?
These came out in the UK about 10 years ago but just never caught on, shame really, the idea was good but in my case, both partners sensitivity was greatly reduced. It was an awkward experience, not to be repeated!
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why is this inappropriate?
I remember speaking to an older friend of mine about these female condoms a few years ago, they said they were horrid for 2 main reasons.
#!: They made an annoying "squeaking" sound during intercourse.
#2: They felt like having intercourse with a sandwich baggie.
Neither of which are very conductive to a enjoyable intimate experience.
Really though what's the point of "female condoms" when a woman can purchase condoms just as readily as a man and ensure it's applied before intercourse?
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why is this inappropriate?
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