Female Condoms on the Rise with Better Protection, Cheaper Price, Improved Sex

Source: Youtube/NAFAmericorps

The use of female condoms may soon be on the rise as a randomised trial has found that three new models of female condoms are more effective compared to the established model. The new models of female condoms are also viable for production. This will also increase the range of options for protection among women, according to an article from the recent issue of Lancet Global Health.

The first female condom was introduced to women in 1993 as the FC1 or also known as Femidom or Reality. In 2007, a cheaper model that was found to be less noisy and softer was the FC2. US authorities also approved the FC2 for use in 2009.

Despite the availability of female condoms, women do not seem to use them often. International donors distributed 140 male condoms for each female condom they give. The report mentioned several barriers to the underuse of female condoms. One is the cost with male condoms costing only $0.03 compared to the female condom at $0.60 each.

There are also few research studies to support their effectiveness in fighting infections and sexually transmitted diseases. The lack of support from lawmakers, low awareness rate amongst women and their sexual partners also contribute to underuse.

In a new study aimed to address the barriers mentioned, researchers recruited 272 women in Durban, South Africa and around 300 women in China to participate in an experiment. All of the participants were generally educated with the women from China living with partners. Only a few of the South African women lived with partners.

Researchers noted that 14 per cent of the African women had used female condoms while the Chinese women had not used one before. The researchers then asked the women to use each type of the female condom - Woman's Condom, VA wow condom and Cupid female condom - five times. The women were asked to keep diaries and sit through interviews for researchers to gather data.

With regards to condom failure, researchers want to know if the 3 types of female condoms tore or broke during sexual intercourse or slipped out of the vagina as the male organ begins to enter the vaginal wall. Results indicated that condom failure resulted in 3 times out of every 100. Higher failure rates have been observed in male condoms.

When it came to feel and sensation, 91.2 per cent of women liked the feel of the female condom including its appearance, colour, scent and lubrication.

Manufacturers of the three female condoms are already using the results of the study to help them quality with regulatory authorities. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Population Fund have already approved India's Cupid condom. The female condom is sold in India, Indonesia, South Africa and other countries for only $0.35 which is actually cheaper than the FC2.