FEMALE CONDOM
(Vaginal Pouch
The Female condom or vaginal
pouch is an important contraceptive option but should be preferably used three
months after normal delivery. Like the male condom, but unlike other barrier
devices female condom offers good protection against sexually transmitted
devices as well as pregnancy. The diaphragm and cervical caps shield only the
cervix against some types of infections and speny but vaginal walls remain
exposed and vulnerable to viruses & bacteria. The female condom, however,
completely covers the vagina as well as the cervix. It is the only method
controlled by the female partner that offers a level protection similar to that
of the male condom.
The female condom is intended
to serve a dual role, offering protection from pregnancy and sexually transmitted
infection (STI). It offers a potential alternative to the male condom, and
women may have more control over negotiating use of the female condom than male
condom. Many women consider the female condom as a significant new alternative
that woman can use better protect themselves against HIV/STIS.
The female condom is an
important new technology that can play a vital part of reproductive health
programmes and needs to be introduced strategically to provide the greatest and
cost-effective public health impact.
Description:
Female condom is a strong,
loose fitting, polyurethane sheath, and 17cm long with a flexible ring at both
ends. Polyurethane is stronger than latex (used in male condoms) and conducts
heat. So using a female condom does not become a barrier to the feelings and
warmth, because it is a good conductor of heat. In male condoms, latex is not
as good a conductor as polyurethane, so the transmission of heat is prevented.
Polyurethane is odorless. The outer ring of a female condom covers the external
genitalia, therefore protecting either labia from infections during
intercourse.
Types:
Reality, femidom, femy,
Preservative Feminine, El Condom Femenine, The Female condom and My Femy are
all trades name for the female condom, and the product specifications of all
these names are identical.
a)
Reality Condom (The F.C. Female
Condom): The FC Female condom
(Formerly Reality) is a soft, flexible, polyurethane pouch to line the vagina.
The pouch itself is strong and thin, Each end of the pouch contains a firm but
flexible ring. A free-floating inner ring aids insertion and holds the device
in place during intercourse. An attached ring at the outer and holds the
opening of the pouch outside the vagina.
b)
FC2 Female Condom: The ‘FC2 Female Condom’ is a second-generation
female condom developed by the Female Health Company (FHC). It is based on the
polyurethane. This cost less as this is made from synthetic latex, which is
softer than polyurethane, and is assembled through a dipping process.
c) The Ready Female Condom (VA Feminine Condom): The Reddy Female condom is available in Germany. It is marketed as
V-Amour Women’s condom. This device is made of latex and uses a soft,
polyurethane sponge to hold it in place inside the vagina. An outer ring
anchors the Reddy Female condom outside the vagina. It is the first latex
female condom.
d)
Panty Condom: The Natural Sensation Panty condom is made of a synthetic
material that is thinner than latex, and is shaped and worn like a woman’s
panty with a built-in condom.
e)
PATH Woman’s Condom: Since 1998 PATH has been developing a new
female condom. The product consists of a dissolving capsule intended to make
insertion easier, a polyurethane condom pouch, and a soft outer ring. Once
inserted, sections of urethane foam on the condom pouch allow the condom to
cling lightly to the vaginal walls so that it does not move during use.
How to Use:
One should open the Female
condom package carefully; tear at the notch on the top right of the
package. One should not use scissors or a knife to open. One should remember
that the outer ring covers the area around the opening of the vagina; the inner
ring is used for insertion and to hold the sheath in place during intercourse.
While holding the Female condom at the closed end one should grasp the
flexible inner ring and squeeze it with the thumb and second or middle finger
so it becomes long and narrow. One can choose a position that is comfortable
for insertion-squat, raise one leg, sit or lie down. Gently insert the inner
ring should be inserted into the vagina and with the index finger on the inside
of the condom, the inner ring should be pushed, when woman are ready, she
should gently guide her partner’s penis into the condom’s opening with her hand
to make save that it enters properly. She should be sure that the penis is not
entering on the side, between the sheath and the vaginal wall. Wrap the condom
in the package or in tissue, and throw it in the garbage. Do not put it into
the toilet.
It is important that the penis is
guided into the centre of the female condom and not between the vaginal wall
and the outer side of the female condom. Diagrams and/or anatomical models
should be used to illustrate this problem at introduction. Women and men should
be instructed that the penis must be guided to ensure no errors occur. If the
penis does enter incorrectly, the man should withdraw his penis and the couple
should start over using the same female condom with additional lubrication, if
necessary.
The female condom comes
pre-lubricated with a silicone-base, non-spermicidal lubricant. This
lubrication is necessary to assist in the insertion of the device and to allow
easy movement during intercourse. The lubricant may make the female condom a
little slippery at first.
If the outer ring of the female
condom gets pushed in or pulled out of the vagina, more lubricant may be
needed. Also, if the female condom makes noise during sex, simply add more
lubricant.
The female condom can be used with
both water-based and oil-based lubricants, whereas male latex condoms can only
be used with water-based lubricants.
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The female condom does not need to be
removed immediately after a man’s ejaculation, like the male condom. But it
should be taken out before the woman stands up to avoid the semen spoiling out.
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The outer ring should be twisted to
seal the condom so that no semen comes out.
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The female condom can be pulled out.
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It is important to stress that the
female condom should be disposed of in waste containers and not, for example,
in the toilet.
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Also, since in many countries women
dispose of sanitary napkins in a clean and private way, the same procedures can
be promoted for the disposal of the female condom.
Cost:
Health economist need to give more
credence to the reality of the daily lives of poor women in proposals for
health sector policies that will impact women’s utilization of health services,
including reproductive health services. This underscores the need to frame the
right questions, such as how women cope with user and other out-of-pocket fees
in relation to different health needs and services.
Contraceptive Efficacy:
Actually when female condoms
are used correctly and consistently, the failure rate is 5% compared to 3%
failure rate of male condoms. So they are a reliable product and studies indicate
that when female condoms did fail it was because people were not putting them
on at every sexual encounter.
The female condom has been the
subject of extensive research, both in clinical settings and in “real life”
projects. An enormous amount of information has been collected, and several
extensive reviews of the research have been conducted. The following facts and
figures synthesize the research results.
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The female condom prevents unwanted
pregnancies |
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The female condom is a reversible, barrier
method of contraception that extends the choice of contraceptive methods
available and provides protection from the risk of pregnancy.
Annual Accidental
Pregnancy Rates for Consistent and Correct Use
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Female Condom |
Male Latex Condom |
Diaphragm |
Spermicide |
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5% |
3% |
6% |
5% |
Efficacy as STI Prevention:
The female condom is a highly
effective barrier against transmission of HIV and many other STIs. For example,
laboratory studies have shown the female condom to be impermeable to
microscopic organisms that cause many of the most common, treatable sexually transmitted
infections, including trichomoniasis, cytomegalovirus, herpes virus, hepatitis
B virus, and HIV. Estimates indicate that consistent and correct use of the
female condom reduces the risk of sexually transmitted infection (including
HIV) by between 94% and 97% per act of intercourse. In addition, with correct
and consistent use the female condom is a highly effective form of
contraception, and has no known side effects or risks. The male latex condom is
the only other barrier method that prevents HIV and other STIs as well as
pregnancy.
Candidacy:
1)
Women who have recently given birth.
2)
Woman who are menstruating.
3)
People who are concerned about
unintended pregnancy and STIs, including HIV/AIDS and whose partner’s cannot or
will not use the male latex condom. Thus women who want to protect themselves
and their partners can use female condom. By suing so they show their partners
that they care.
4)
Woman who are peri-and
post-menopausal and sex is infrequent.
5)
People who are allergic or sensitive
to latex and husbands cannot use latex condoms or who are allergic to
nonoxynol-9 spermicide thus unable to use spermicides.
6)
People who are HIV+ or have HIV+
partners including such women who have a hysterectomy.
Advantages:
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Prevents the spread of sexually
transmitted infections including HIV and AIDS.
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Protects the vagina and vulva
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Does not reduce a male partner’s
stimulation
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Available without a prescription
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No hormonal side effects
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Can be used by people with latex sensitivities
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Pre-lubricated and can be used with
oil and water-based lubricants
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Can be inserted before sex play
begins
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Insertion can be part of sex play
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Erection not necessary to keep condom
in place.
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Doses not affect future fertility
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Helpful with drung clients
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Female condom was useful for sex
workers, especially for regular clients and personal partners
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Women could insert it will before sex
and “be ready” for protection without having to rely on the man to slow down
during sex to put on the condom. It is stronger than latex, odorless, causes no
allergic reactions and unlike latex, may be used with both oil-based and
water-based lubricants. It can be inserted prior to intercourse, is not
dependent on the male erection, and does not require immediate withdrawl after
ejaculation. With correct and consistent use, the female condom is as effective
as other barrier methods and has practically no side effects or risks.
Because of the polyurethane used to make it, the female condom is both
strong and durable. No special storage arrangements have to be made because
polyurethane is not affected by changes in temperature and dampness. The expiry
date on the female condom is 60 months (5 years) from the date of manufacture.
Research confirms that the female condom has no serious side effects. It
does not alter the vaginal flora or cause significant skin irritation, allergic
reactions or vaginal trauma. Some users have reported mild but transient
irritation. The polyurethane does not produce irritation or allergic reactions in
people sensitive to latex, the material from which most male condom are made.
Disadvantage:
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Noticeable during sex
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Sometimes difficult to insert or use.
·
Dies not contain spermicide but one
can add it.
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Can rarely break to leak
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About three times more expensive than
male condoms.
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The female condom may be prone to
more problems that occur even when used consistently. For example, penile
misrouting or pushing the female condom in the vagina may be problems.
Reported disadvantages included its appearance, some discomfort with the
rings, and noise during intercourse. Advantages over Male Condom:
Another user-friendly feature
of the female condom is that it can be inserted much before the time of
coitus-up to 8 hours before-while with the male condo, you have to wait till
the final moment because it can be put on an erect penis only, which interrupts
sexual spontaneity. Therefore female condoms do not interrupt sexual
spontaneity. Female condoms are not tight or constricting as male condoms are.
And there, female condoms need not be taken out right after the coitus rather
can be left inside the woman’s body and may be taken out many hours later.
Latex male condoms can decay
because of heat or humidity, but polyurethane is not affected by temperature or
humidity changes, therefore female condoms can be stored for a long time and
stored anywhere. That female condom is not a replacement of make condoms,
rather just another option to choose from. Both female and male condoms must
not be used together and no matter which on you use, use it consistently and
correctly. Compared to the male condo, participants reported the female condom
to be less disruptive of spontaneity, less likely to break, and more durable. E
need both types of condoms, because together they can help achieve the overall
goal of providing protection for all high-risk acts of intercourse.
Safe Sex:
i)
?????????????????
ii)
The factors that make sex workers
vulnerable to HIV also pose considerable barriers to mobilizing them, due to
competing interests between and among brthel woners and sex workers. Discussion
and visual tools – e.g. a diagram or flip char causes of unsafe sex and low to
overcome these should be used. The education on safe sex should better involve
in sensitive topics such as violence and unsafe sex in more depth, in hopes of
protecting the emerging solidarity among sex workers and shifting the balance
towards greater co-operation.
iii)
Recently there has been a lot of talk
about women’s rights. Some people feel that women should have an equal role
with men in running business, industry, and government. And, of course, some
other people have opinions somewhere in between, at points 2,3,4,5 or 6.
Continuous behavior-charge communications and condom distribution are effective
in encouraging safer sex practices among persons engaged in sex with
non-regular partners. Many sex workers are debt-bonded, brothel-based migrant
sex workers cannot disobey orders of brothel owners from Vietnam in phnom penh,
Combodia. The factors that make sex workers vulnerable to HIV also pose
considerable barriers to mobilizing them, due to competing interests between
and among brothel owners and sex workers Discussion and visual tools-e.g. a
spider diagram of causes of unsafe sex an overcome there are being used in group
work to analyze concerns expressed by sex workers, along with survey
questionnaires and in-depth interviews. In the second phase the project will
address sensitive topics such as violence and unsafe sex in more depth, in
hopes of protecting the emerging solidarity among sex workers and shifting the
balance towards greater co-operation to increase access to and use of male and
female condoms and other contraceptive methods; training in partner
communication and negotiation; access to voluntary counseling and testing, and
programs to address sexual violence and coercion, among other things. The
choice to protect herself from STD/HIV or unwanted pregnancies must stay with
women. In the era of the introduction of the male condom, women were asked to
provide and ensure male condoms on their partners, which is totally bizarre
idea and that is why it failed, whether a man puts on a condom or not is not
under the control of a woman. The choice must stay with her this is a potent
solution, which brings out the need of female condoms more strongly.
???????????????????????????????????
Conclusion:
Female condoms are barrier
devices designed to protect the cervix, vagina, and part of the vulva and
perineum. They are highly acceptable to some women and have excellent potential
to protect against HIV and others STIs. Relative to the diaphragm and cervical
cap, however, they are less discreet and thus more difficult for women to use
without their partner’s cooperation. It is a fundamental reality that women are
uniquely at risk of HIV infection and pregnancy in every single act of
unprotected intercourse, illustrating the urgent need to simultaneously address
the realities of sex, power, and reproduction. Common sense and field
experience suggests the best approach is to invest heavily in integrated HIV
and family programs that offer a range of services, including efforts.
Websites and Contact Number:
Information on the female condom can
be found at:
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http://www.safesex.org/condoms/femalecondoms/
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http://www.avert.org/femcond.htm
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http://www.emory.edu/WHSC/MED/FAMPLAN/reality.html
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http://www..psi.org/psi_ops/pfs/50_fcon.htm
Or call the Female
Health Company at: 845-353-8298 (this is not a toll free number)
The Female Health
Company
One Sovereign Park
Coronation Road
London NW10 7QP
Phone: +44-181-965-2813
Fax: +44-181-453-0324
E-mail: mitchellwarren@compuserve.com
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